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	9 May 2025	21.7	25.169 AU	24.474 AU	18h17m	-09°44'	132.6°	1.7°	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 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   18 17 24.0   -09 44 25    24.476   25.168  132.3    1.7   255   21.7 
2025-05-09 06:13 UT   18 17 22.3   -09 44 22    24.474   25.169  132.6    1.7   255   21.7 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   18 17 17.3   -09 44 13    24.469   25.173  133.3    1.7   255   21.7 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   18 17 10.5   -09 44 02    24.462   25.177  134.2    1.6   255   21.7 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   18 17 03.6   -09 43 50    24.455   25.182  135.2    1.6   254   21.7 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   18 16 56.5   -09 43 40    24.448   25.186  136.1    1.6   254   21.7 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   18 16 49.4   -09 43 29    24.442   25.191  137.0    1.6   253   21.7 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   18 16 42.1   -09 43 20    24.435   25.196  138.0    1.5   253   21.7 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   18 16 34.7   -09 43 10    24.429   25.200  138.9    1.5   252   21.7 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   18 16 27.2   -09 43 01    24.423   25.205  139.8    1.5   252   21.7 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   18 16 19.6   -09 42 53    24.418   25.210  140.7    1.5   251   21.7 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   18 16 11.9   -09 42 45    24.412   25.214  141.7    1.4   250   21.7 

    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.