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	26 Apr 2024	21.3	23.385 AU	22.852 AU	18h18m	-08°46'	120.9°	2.1°	259°

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 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)
        

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 (2.70 + 5 log[∆] + 25.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.77 + 5 log[∆] + 7.10 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   18 18 25.2   -08 46 51    22.860   23.381  120.1    2.1   259   21.3 
2024-04-26 18:52 UT   18 18 21.0   -08 46 36    22.852   23.385  120.9    2.1   259   21.3 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   18 18 19.8   -08 46 31    22.850   23.386  121.1    2.1   259   21.3 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   18 18 14.3   -08 46 12    22.841   23.391  122.0    2.1   259   21.3 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   18 18 08.6   -08 45 53    22.832   23.396  123.0    2.1   258   21.3 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   18 18 02.8   -08 45 34    22.823   23.401  123.9    2.0   258   21.3 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   18 17 56.8   -08 45 16    22.814   23.405  124.9    2.0   258   21.3 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   18 17 50.7   -08 44 58    22.806   23.410  125.8    2.0   257   21.3 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   18 17 44.5   -08 44 40    22.797   23.415  126.7    2.0   257   21.3 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   18 17 38.1   -08 44 23    22.789   23.420  127.7    2.0   257   21.3 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   18 17 31.5   -08 44 07    22.781   23.425  128.6    1.9   256   21.3 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   18 17 24.8   -08 43 51    22.773   23.429  129.6    1.9   256   21.3 

    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.