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	27 Jul 2024	21.4	23.824 AU	22.994 AU	18h04m	-08°55'	144.0°	1.4°	110°

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
2024-07-27 00:00 UT   18 04 43.5   -08 55 21    22.989   23.822  144.4    1.4   111   21.4 
2024-07-27 08:48 UT   18 04 40.4   -08 55 33    22.994   23.824  144.0    1.4   110   21.4 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   18 04 35.2   -08 55 54    23.003   23.827  143.5    1.5   110   21.4 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   18 04 27.0   -08 56 27    23.017   23.832  142.6    1.5   109   21.4 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   18 04 18.9   -08 57 01    23.031   23.836  141.7    1.5   109   21.4 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   18 04 10.9   -08 57 35    23.046   23.841  140.8    1.5   108   21.4 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   18 04 03.0   -08 58 10    23.061   23.846  139.8    1.6   107   21.4 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   18 03 55.3   -08 58 45    23.076   23.851  138.9    1.6   107   21.4 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   18 03 47.6   -08 59 20    23.091   23.856  138.0    1.6   106   21.4 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   18 03 40.1   -08 59 56    23.106   23.860  137.1    1.7   106   21.4 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   18 03 32.7   -09 00 32    23.122   23.865  136.2    1.7   105   21.4 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   18 03 25.5   -09 01 09    23.138   23.870  135.3    1.7   105   21.4 

    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.