C/2012 V2 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	11 Aug 2013	12.4	1.468 AU	2.254 AU	07h38m	-00°12'	30.1°	20.3°	238°
Nearest approach	15 Sep 2013	12.5	1.552 AU	2.120 AU	09h11m	-23°20'	43.4°	26.4°	238°
Today	25 Apr 2024	30.1	25.750 AU	25.135 AU	17h51m	-13°49'	126.7°	1.8°	264°

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 C/2012 V2 (LINEAR) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9966990
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4682760
            i (Inclination)                 : 67.17230
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 262.17120
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 217.42410
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 278.70616
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -34.06351
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456515.60110
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 9380.87

            Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
            Reference                       : MPC 88695

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

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 based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (9.00 + 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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   17 51 45.2   -13 49 10    25.138   25.748  126.4    1.8   264   30.1 
2024-04-25 08:29 UT   17 51 43.2   -13 49 00    25.135   25.750  126.7    1.8   264   30.1 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   17 51 39.6   -13 48 42    25.129   25.753  127.3    1.8   263   30.1 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   17 51 34.0   -13 48 14    25.120   25.757  128.3    1.8   263   30.1 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   17 51 28.2   -13 47 46    25.112   25.762  129.3    1.7   263   30.1 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   17 51 22.2   -13 47 18    25.104   25.766  130.3    1.7   263   30.1 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   17 51 16.2   -13 46 50    25.095   25.771  131.2    1.7   262   30.1 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   17 51 10.0   -13 46 23    25.087   25.776  132.2    1.7   262   30.1 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   17 51 03.7   -13 45 55    25.080   25.780  133.2    1.6   262   30.1 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   17 50 57.3   -13 45 28    25.072   25.785  134.1    1.6   261   30.1 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   17 50 50.7   -13 45 02    25.065   25.789  135.1    1.6   261   30.1 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   17 50 44.0   -13 44 35    25.057   25.794  136.1    1.6   261   30.1 

    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.