|
C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) |
| ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
| Nearest approach | 6 Jan 2015 | 3.9 | 1.330 AU | 0.444 AU | 04h26m | -01°48' | 134.0° | 32.1° | 56° |
| Perihelion | 27 Jan 2015 | 4.8 | 1.290 AU | 0.697 AU | 02h24m | +38°38' | 98.8° | 48.9° | 73° |
| Today | 12 Oct 2025 | 21.9 | 25.891 AU | 26.188 AU | 18h02m | -10°42' | 71.6° | 2.1° | 85° |
C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)- 2025-10-12
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.)
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 4.8 + 5 log[∆] + 7.1 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 Q2 (Lovejoy) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9967260
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.2904520
i (Inclination) : 80.20620
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 95.03930
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 12.31650
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 97.16627
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 12.13425
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2457050.26200
P (Orbital period in years) : 7825.19
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC115880
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
2025-10-12 00:00 UT 18 02 28.0 -10 42 03 26.169 25.887 72.5 2.1 86 21.9
2025-10-12 22:22 UT 18 02 31.0 -10 42 37 26.188 25.891 71.6 2.1 85 21.9
2025-10-13 00:00 UT 18 02 31.2 -10 42 39 26.189 25.892 71.6 2.1 85 21.9
2025-10-14 00:00 UT 18 02 34.6 -10 43 15 26.210 25.896 70.6 2.1 85 21.9
2025-10-15 00:00 UT 18 02 38.2 -10 43 51 26.230 25.901 69.7 2.1 85 21.9
2025-10-16 00:00 UT 18 02 41.9 -10 44 27 26.250 25.906 68.7 2.1 85 21.9
2025-10-17 00:00 UT 18 02 45.7 -10 45 02 26.270 25.910 67.8 2.0 84 21.9
2025-10-18 00:00 UT 18 02 49.7 -10 45 37 26.290 25.915 66.8 2.0 84 21.9
2025-10-19 00:00 UT 18 02 53.8 -10 46 11 26.310 25.919 65.9 2.0 84 21.9
2025-10-20 00:00 UT 18 02 58.0 -10 46 46 26.330 25.924 64.9 2.0 84 21.9
2025-10-21 00:00 UT 18 03 02.4 -10 47 20 26.349 25.928 64.0 2.0 83 21.9
2025-10-22 00:00 UT 18 03 07.0 -10 47 54 26.369 25.933 63.0 2.0 83 21.9
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.
