C/2015 C2 (SWAN)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach11 Feb 201513.60.811 AU1.243 AU23h58m-41°30'40.7°52.4°122°
Perihelion3 Mar 201513.20.705 AU1.389 AU00h51m-08°24'28.7°42.5°91°
Today30 Mar 202434.523.595 AU23.110 AU16h20m+26°04'118.0°2.1°250°
C/2015 C2 (SWAN)- 2024-03-30
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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.