It was discovered by Michel Giacobini, who observed it in the constellation of Aquarius on 20 December 1900.

It was recovered two orbits later by Ernst Zinner, while he was observing variable stars near Beta Scuti on 23 October 1913.

The comet currently has a minimum orbit intersection distance to Earth of 0.035 AU (5.2 million km).

[4] During the apparition of 2018, the optical spectra have revealed the comet is depleted in carbon-chain molecules and carbon dioxide, likely indicating its origin in relatively warm portion of the Solar system.

[7] Earlier in the same month the comet was observed by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter.