C/2016 U1 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Dec 2016	10.4	0.901 AU	0.728 AU	15h22m	+31°53'	61.4°	73.5°	330°
Perihelion	13 Jan 2017	6.8	0.325 AU	1.162 AU	18h37m	-19°42'	14.6°	49.6°	280°
Today	27 Jul 2024	31.8	21.340 AU	21.435 AU	03h03m	-05°42'	83.2°	2.7°	250°

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/2016 U1 (NEOWISE) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0003900
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3251450
            i (Inclination)                 : 46.16610
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 61.68200
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 162.77110
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 49.56076
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.33673
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457766.82060

            Epoch                           : 2022 Jan 22
            Reference                       : MPC103847

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (17.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.51 + 5 log[∆] + 10.29 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   03 03 23.5   -05 42 12    21.437   21.339   83.1    2.7   250   31.8 
2024-07-27 04:25 UT   03 03 24.0   -05 42 21    21.435   21.340   83.2    2.7   250   31.8 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   03 03 26.0   -05 43 00    21.427   21.345   84.0    2.7   250   31.8 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   03 03 28.3   -05 43 49    21.417   21.350   84.8    2.7   251   31.8 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   03 03 30.5   -05 44 38    21.406   21.355   85.7    2.7   251   31.8 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   03 03 32.4   -05 45 29    21.396   21.360   86.6    2.7   251   31.8 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   03 03 34.2   -05 46 21    21.385   21.366   87.5    2.7   252   31.8 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   03 03 35.9   -05 47 13    21.375   21.371   88.4    2.7   252   31.8 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   03 03 37.3   -05 48 07    21.365   21.376   89.2    2.7   252   31.8 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   03 03 38.6   -05 49 01    21.354   21.381   90.1    2.7   253   31.8 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   03 03 39.7   -05 49 56    21.344   21.387   91.0    2.7   253   31.8 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   03 03 40.6   -05 50 52    21.333   21.392   91.9    2.7   253   31.8 

    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.