C/2013 UQ4 (Catalina) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 4 Jul 2014 | 11.8 | 1.099 AU | 0.387 AU | 23h16m | +40°30' | 91.7° | 67.6° | 237° |
Nearest approach | 9 Jul 2014 | 11.5 | 1.102 AU | 0.332 AU | 20h37m | +59°49' | 96.0° | 66.6° | 199° |
Today | 20 Apr 2024 | 34.0 | 23.508 AU | 23.244 AU | 09h06m | +15°46' | 104.0° | 2.4° | 107° |
C/2013 UQ4 (Catalina)- 2024-04-20
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 UQ4 (Catalina) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9812680
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.0987550
i (Inclination) : 145.21210
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 317.80900
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 23.74980
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 297.94097
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 13.28420
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2456842.78700
P (Orbital period in years) : 449.24
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC102951
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. (13.50 + 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
2024-04-20 00:00 UT 09 06 07.8 +15 46 44 23.239 23.507 104.2 2.4 107 34.0
2024-04-20 05:01 UT 09 06 07.2 +15 46 47 23.244 23.508 104.0 2.4 107 34.0
2024-04-21 00:00 UT 09 06 04.8 +15 46 54 23.260 23.511 103.2 2.4 107 34.0
2024-04-22 00:00 UT 09 06 01.9 +15 47 03 23.281 23.516 102.3 2.4 107 34.0
2024-04-23 00:00 UT 09 05 59.2 +15 47 11 23.302 23.520 101.3 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-24 00:00 UT 09 05 56.7 +15 47 18 23.324 23.525 100.3 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 09 05 54.4 +15 47 25 23.345 23.529 99.3 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 09 05 52.2 +15 47 31 23.366 23.533 98.3 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 09 05 50.2 +15 47 36 23.387 23.538 97.3 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 09 05 48.4 +15 47 41 23.408 23.542 96.4 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 09 05 46.8 +15 47 44 23.430 23.546 95.4 2.4 107 34.1
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 09 05 45.3 +15 47 47 23.451 23.551 94.4 2.4 107 34.1
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.