Encke is a periodic comet that orbits the Sun approximately every 3.3 years. It was discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1786 and later named after the German astronomer Johann Franz Encke, who calculated its orbit in detail. This comet is notable for its relatively short orbital period and its bright appearance when it approaches the Sun. Encke is also associated with the meteor shower known as the Taurids, which occurs annually as Earth passes through the debris left by the comet.