[6] At aphelion (farthest distance from the Sun) the comet often makes approaches to Jupiter as it did in 1965 and will in 2167.

[16] It was seen to break into four large pieces labeled 73P-A, B, C and D.[17] As of March 2006, at least eight fragments were known: B, C, G, H, J, L, M and N. On April 18, 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope recorded dozens of pieces of fragments B and G.[18] It appears that the comet may eventually disintegrate completely and cease to be observable (as did 3D/Biela in the 19th century), in which case its designation would change from 73P to 73D.

[19] In April 2006, fragment C was the largest and the presumed principal remnant of the original nucleus.

[17] The fragments passed Earth in May 2006, with the comet coming nearest to Earth on May 12 at a distance of 0.078 AU (11.7 million km; 7.3 million mi),[6] a close pass in astronomical terms though with no significant threat of debris–Earth collision.

[22] While the main fragment of 73P came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 25 August 2022 when it was 1 AU from Earth,[3] fragment 73P-Y (with a short 34-day observation arc) had a best-fit of being near the orbit of Jupiter about 6.0 ± 0.5 AU (898 ± 75 million km) from Earth.

[23] The non-primary fragment 73P-BT which has an observation arc of 250 days from February 2017 to October 2017 and (if it had survived) was expected to come to perihelion on 26 August 2022.

[24][2] Three additional fragments "BW, BX, and BY" that were discovered in mid-August were announced on 2 September 2022.