C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach16 Nov 20135.51.013 AU0.465 AU11h32m+38°04'79.5°73.7°304°
Perihelion18 Dec 20135.70.821 AU0.927 AU16h47m+25°18'50.8°68.2°342°
Today28 Mar 202434.625.607 AU25.594 AU19h01m-64°02'89.6°2.2°262°
C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)- 2024-03-28
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9980730
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8211360
            i (Inclination)                 : 63.96980
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.69710
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.28580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 117.04962
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.98309
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456645.39410
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 8796.30

            Epoch                           : 2021 Feb 13
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-BE3

            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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.07 + 5 log[∆] + 14.53 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
2024-03-28 00:00 UT   19 01 17.5   -64 01 26    25.601   25.603   89.0    2.2   261   34.6 
2024-03-28 20:13 UT   19 01 20.2   -64 02 46    25.594   25.607   89.6    2.2   262   34.6 
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   19 01 20.7   -64 03 01    25.592   25.608   89.7    2.2   262   34.6 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   19 01 23.5   -64 04 36    25.584   25.612   90.5    2.2   262   34.6 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   19 01 25.9   -64 06 11    25.576   25.617   91.2    2.2   263   34.6 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   19 01 28.0   -64 07 47    25.568   25.622   91.9    2.2   264   34.6 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   19 01 29.7   -64 09 23    25.559   25.626   92.7    2.2   264   34.6 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   19 01 31.1   -64 10 60    25.551   25.631   93.4    2.2   265   34.6 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   19 01 32.1   -64 12 37    25.543   25.636   94.2    2.2   266   34.6 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   19 01 32.7   -64 14 14    25.535   25.640   94.9    2.2   266   34.6 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   19 01 33.0   -64 15 51    25.526   25.645   95.6    2.2   267   34.6 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   19 01 32.9   -64 17 28    25.518   25.649   96.4    2.2   268   34.6 


    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.