C/2017 A3 (Elenin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jan 2017	18.0	3.841 AU	3.412 AU	06h18m	-46°04'	108.6°	14.1°	32°
Perihelion	31 Jan 2017	18.0	3.840 AU	3.417 AU	06h10m	-43°51'	108.2°	14.1°	41°
Today	8 Nov 2025	28.8	19.288 AU	19.059 AU	19h26m	+78°01'	101.9°	2.9°	65°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (9.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2017 A3 (Elenin) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9113940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.8404320
    i (Inclination)                 : 98.50290
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 97.85120
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 303.92640
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 110.24874
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -55.14840
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457784.51680
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 285.35

    Epoch                           : 2022 Mar 31
    Reference                       : MPC108594

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   19 25 58.2   +78 07 22    19.054   19.280  101.7    2.9    67   28.8 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   19 26 23.3   +78 04 09    19.057   19.285  101.8    2.9    66   28.8 
2025-11-08 18:19 UT   19 26 43.0   +78 01 42    19.059   19.288  101.9    2.9    65   28.8 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   19 26 49.2   +78 00 57    19.059   19.289  101.9    2.9    65   28.8 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   19 27 15.8   +77 57 46    19.062   19.293  102.0    2.9    64   28.8 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   19 27 43.0   +77 54 37    19.065   19.297  102.1    2.9    63   28.8 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   19 28 10.9   +77 51 29    19.068   19.302  102.2    2.9    62   28.8 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   19 28 39.5   +77 48 22    19.071   19.306  102.2    2.9    61   28.8 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   19 29 08.6   +77 45 16    19.074   19.310  102.3    2.9    60   28.8 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   19 29 38.5   +77 42 13    19.078   19.314  102.4    2.9    59   28.8 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   19 30 08.9   +77 39 10    19.081   19.319  102.4    2.9    58   28.8 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   19 30 39.9   +77 36 09    19.084   19.323  102.5    2.9    58   28.8 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   19 31 11.5   +77 33 10    19.088   19.327  102.5    2.9    57   28.8 

    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.