C/2014 E2 (Jacques)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	29 Jun 2014	6.3	0.660 AU	1.631 AU	05h49m	+20°50'	10.7°	16.6°	255°
Nearest approach	27 Aug 2014	7.1	1.311 AU	0.580 AU	22h44m	+61°46'	107.9°	47.2°	186°
Today	9 May 2024	28.4	25.072 AU	24.327 AU	18h00m	-09°55'	136.7°	1.6°	255°

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/2014 E2 (Jacques) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9986916
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6600717
            i (Inclination)                 : 156.36097
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.51877
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 344.00393
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 71.23332
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -6.34395
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456838.43158
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 11331.20

            Epoch                           : 2020 Dec 17
            Reference                       : MPEC 2020-SI8

            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 (7.10 + 5 log[∆] + 11.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.08 + 5 log[∆] + 10.30 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   18 00 55.6   -09 55 26    24.328   25.071  136.5    1.6   255   28.4 
2024-05-09 03:54 UT   18 00 54.3   -09 55 23    24.327   25.072  136.7    1.6   255   28.4 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   18 00 47.8   -09 55 06    24.322   25.076  137.5    1.6   255   28.4 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   18 00 39.9   -09 54 47    24.315   25.081  138.4    1.5   254   28.4 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   18 00 31.9   -09 54 28    24.310   25.085  139.4    1.5   254   28.4 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   18 00 23.8   -09 54 09    24.304   25.090  140.3    1.5   253   28.4 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   18 00 15.6   -09 53 51    24.298   25.095  141.2    1.4   253   28.4 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   18 00 07.3   -09 53 33    24.293   25.100  142.1    1.4   252   28.4 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   17 59 58.9   -09 53 16    24.288   25.104  143.1    1.4   251   28.4 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   17 59 50.4   -09 52 59    24.283   25.109  144.0    1.4   251   28.4 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   17 59 41.8   -09 52 43    24.279   25.114  144.9    1.3   250   28.4 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   17 59 33.1   -09 52 27    24.275   25.118  145.8    1.3   249   28.4 

    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.