C/2014 E2 (Jacques)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Jun 2014	6.4	0.679 AU	1.648 AU	05h49m	+20°49'	11.2°	16.9°	256°
Nearest approach	28 Aug 2014	7.1	1.320 AU	0.582 AU	22h49m	+61°03'	109.0°	46.4°	186°
Today	30 Mar 2026	29.3	28.239 AU	28.056 AU	17h58m	-10°37'	99.5°	2.0°	268°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.1 + 5 log[∆] + 10.3 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2014 E2 (Jacques) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9988040
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6794840
    i (Inclination)                 : 156.51100
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.23440
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 344.05920
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 70.91373
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -6.28452
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456838.87830
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 13541.67

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   17 58 28.9   -10 38 00    28.073   28.232   98.1    2.0   268   29.3 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   17 58 27.3   -10 37 34    28.061   28.237   99.1    2.0   268   29.3 
2026-03-30 10:51 UT   17 58 26.6   -10 37 22    28.056   28.239   99.5    2.0   268   29.3 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   17 58 25.6   -10 37 08    28.049   28.241  100.1    2.0   268   29.3 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   17 58 23.7   -10 36 42    28.037   28.246  101.0    2.0   268   29.3 
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   17 58 21.7   -10 36 16    28.025   28.250  102.0    2.0   267   29.3 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   17 58 19.5   -10 35 50    28.013   28.255  103.0    2.0   267   29.3 
2026-04-04 00:00 UT   17 58 17.2   -10 35 25    28.001   28.259  103.9    2.0   267   29.3 
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   17 58 14.8   -10 34 59    27.989   28.264  104.9    2.0   267   29.3 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   17 58 12.2   -10 34 33    27.977   28.268  105.9    2.0   266   29.3 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   17 58 09.4   -10 34 08    27.966   28.273  106.8    1.9   266   29.3 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   17 58 06.5   -10 33 43    27.954   28.277  107.8    1.9   266   29.3 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   17 58 03.5   -10 33 17    27.943   28.282  108.8    1.9   266   29.3 

    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.