2P/Encke
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Sep 2023	10.1	0.755 AU	0.900 AU	09h22m	+25°20'	46.4°	74.0°	297°
Perihelion	22 Oct 2023	7.3	0.340 AU	1.250 AU	13h02m	-07°01'	11.5°	35.9°	291°
Today	16 Apr 2024	18.0	2.563 AU	3.025 AU	22h25m	-13°19'	53.8°	18.4°	246°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

The orbital elements of 2P/Encke are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8469450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3395590
            i (Inclination)                 : 11.33740
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 334.01700
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 187.28660
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 341.16290
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.42873
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460240.02800
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 3.30

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 16
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-EF7

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Encke type
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 3.026
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The light curve is estimated based on previous apparitions. (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-04-16 00:00 UT   22 24 35.6   -13 23 20     3.028    2.557   53.2   18.3   246   18.0 
2024-04-16 18:40 UT   22 25 18.4   -13 19 03     3.025    2.563   53.8   18.4   246   18.0 
2024-04-17 00:00 UT   22 25 30.6   -13 17 50     3.024    2.565   54.0   18.4   246   18.0 
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   22 26 24.7   -13 12 25     3.020    2.573   54.7   18.6   246   18.0 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   22 27 18.0   -13 07 05     3.015    2.582   55.4   18.7   246   18.0 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   22 28 10.4   -13 01 49     3.011    2.590   56.2   18.8   246   18.0 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   22 29 01.9   -12 56 38     3.006    2.598   56.9   18.9   246   18.0 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   22 29 52.6   -12 51 32     3.001    2.606   57.7   19.0   246   18.0 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   22 30 42.4   -12 46 31     2.996    2.614   58.4   19.1   246   18.1 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   22 31 31.4   -12 41 34     2.991    2.622   59.2   19.2   246   18.1 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   22 32 19.4   -12 36 42     2.986    2.631   59.9   19.3   246   18.1 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   22 33 06.6   -12 31 56     2.981    2.639   60.7   19.4   247   18.1 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.