Encke passed 0.19 AU from Earth, and on 30 June 2172, it will make a close approach of roughly 0.17 AU. On 18 November 2013, it passed 0.02496 AU from Mercury. Close approaches to Earth usually occur every 33 years.

Comet Encke has a perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) of 0.34 AU, and at perihelion Comet Encke passes the Sun at 69.5 km/s. Between 1769 and 2103, Comet Encke's perihelion distance only varies from 0.330 AU (in 2050) and 0.347 AU (in 1782). Of