C/2017 E4 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach30 Mar 20179.30.743 AU0.601 AU21h24m+05°50'47.8°95.4°270°
Perihelion23 Apr 20178.80.492 AU1.100 AU01h14m+36°41'26.6°66.0°332°
Today6 Nov 202431.621.276 AU20.945 AU04h43m-51°03'108.2°2.5°331°
C/2017 E4 (Lovejoy)- 2024-11-06
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/2017 E4 (Lovejoy) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0014810
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.4922180
            i (Inclination)                 : 87.96240
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 222.76090
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 87.09480
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 257.77653
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 86.45198
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457866.76760

            Epoch                           : 2022 May 26
            Reference                       : MPC105239

            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 11.72 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]). The additional green curve shows the effect of forward scattering, occurring when the comet is between the earth and the sun, for a gas-to-dust light ratio δ90 of 0.30. (See Marcus 2007)


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.