C/2015 C2 (SWAN) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 11 Feb 2015 | 13.6 | 0.811 AU | 1.243 AU | 23h58m | -41°30' | 40.7° | 52.4° | 122° |
Perihelion | 3 Mar 2015 | 13.2 | 0.705 AU | 1.389 AU | 00h51m | -08°24' | 28.7° | 42.5° | 91° |
Today | 30 Mar 2024 | 34.5 | 23.595 AU | 23.110 AU | 16h20m | +26°04' | 118.0° | 2.1° | 250° |
C/2015 C2 (SWAN)- 2024-03-30
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.)
The orbital elements of C/2015 C2 (SWAN) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9979180
q (Perihelion distance) : 0.7046660
i (Inclination) : 94.60180
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 49.42860
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 333.92870
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 51.67657
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -25.98097
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2457085.29120
P (Orbital period in years) : 6226.64
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC 95211
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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (14.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-03-30 00:00 UT 16 20 41.4 +26 03 50 23.111 23.594 117.8 2.1 250 34.5
2024-03-30 07:57 UT 16 20 39.3 +26 04 23 23.110 23.595 118.0 2.1 250 34.5
2024-03-31 00:00 UT 16 20 35.1 +26 05 28 23.107 23.599 118.4 2.1 249 34.5
2024-04-01 00:00 UT 16 20 28.7 +26 07 05 23.103 23.603 118.9 2.1 248 34.5
2024-04-02 00:00 UT 16 20 22.0 +26 08 41 23.100 23.608 119.5 2.1 247 34.5
2024-04-03 00:00 UT 16 20 15.2 +26 10 16 23.096 23.613 120.0 2.1 246 34.5
2024-04-04 00:00 UT 16 20 08.3 +26 11 51 23.093 23.618 120.6 2.1 245 34.5
2024-04-05 00:00 UT 16 20 01.2 +26 13 24 23.090 23.623 121.1 2.1 244 34.6
2024-04-06 00:00 UT 16 19 53.9 +26 14 56 23.087 23.628 121.6 2.1 243 34.6
2024-04-07 00:00 UT 16 19 46.5 +26 16 28 23.084 23.632 122.1 2.1 242 34.6
2024-04-08 00:00 UT 16 19 39.0 +26 17 58 23.081 23.637 122.7 2.0 241 34.6
2024-04-09 00:00 UT 16 19 31.2 +26 19 27 23.079 23.642 123.2 2.0 240 34.6
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.