Kometi iyi yakawanikwa naRichard M. West, weEuropean Southern Observatory, musi wa 10 Nyamavhuvhu 1975. Kometi iyi yakasvika pedyo nezuva musi wa 25 Kukadzi 1976. Panguva yeperihelion kometi iyi yaive neyakaenzana nezuva ye6.4° uye semhedzisiro yekupararira kumberi yakasvika pakakwirira pakuonekwa kwe -3. Kubva musi wa 25 Kukadzi kusvika musi wa 27, vacherekedzi vakataura kuti kometi iyi yaive yakajeka zvakakwana kuti iongororwe masikati machena. Pasinei nekupenya kwayo, Kometi West haina kutaurwa zvakanyanya munhau. Izvi zvaive nekuda kwekuratidzwa kusingafadzi kwaKuetekhout muna 1973, iyo yakanga yafanotaurwa zvakanyanya kuti ichave yakakurumbira: masayendisiti aichenjerera kuita fungidziro dzingamutsa zvido zveveruzhinji.
Musi waAugust 10, 1975