73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, is a periodic comet in our solar system which is in the process of disintegrating.

Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, one of the comets discovered by astronomers by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann, working at the Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf, Germany.
The comet's initial discovery was serendipity: the astronomers were exposing photographic plates in search of a minor planet, on photographs exposed for a minor planet survey, on May 2 1930. The comet was lost after its 1930 apparition, but was observed several more times.

In 1995, 73P began to disintegrate. It was seen to break into five large pieces labelled 73P-A, B, C, D & E. As of March 2006, at least eight fragments were known: B, C, G, H, J, L, M & N. On April 18, 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope recorded dozens of pieces of fragments B and G. 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.