C/2017 O1 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Oct 2017	10.9	1.505 AU	0.706 AU	04h30m	+51°29'	123.2°	33.7°	238°
Nearest approach	18 Oct 2017	10.9	1.505 AU	0.706 AU	04h31m	+53°33'	123.4°	33.6°	236°
Today	9 Aug 2026	30.2	22.450 AU	22.936 AU	13h10m	-01°38'	60.2°	2.2°	109°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.9 + 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 O1 (ASASSN) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9966450
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5045250
    i (Inclination)                 : 39.81820
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 25.76200
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 21.01540
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 42.20202
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.27605
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458043.00570
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 9496.43

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194152

    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
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   13 10 16.7   -01 36 43    22.901   22.441   61.8    2.3   109   30.2 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   13 10 21.5   -01 37 34    22.921   22.446   60.9    2.3   109   30.2 
2026-08-09 18:21 UT   13 10 25.2   -01 38 13    22.936   22.450   60.2    2.2   109   30.2 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   13 10 26.4   -01 38 26    22.940   22.451   60.0    2.2   109   30.2 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   13 10 31.4   -01 39 18    22.959   22.456   59.0    2.2   109   30.2 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   13 10 36.6   -01 40 11    22.979   22.460   58.1    2.2   109   30.2 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   13 10 41.9   -01 41 05    22.998   22.465   57.2    2.2   109   30.2 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   13 10 47.3   -01 41 59    23.017   22.470   56.3    2.1   109   30.2 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   13 10 52.9   -01 42 54    23.035   22.475   55.3    2.1   109   30.2 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   13 10 58.6   -01 43 50    23.054   22.480   54.4    2.1   109   30.2 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   13 11 04.4   -01 44 46    23.072   22.485   53.5    2.1   108   30.2 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   13 11 10.3   -01 45 43    23.090   22.490   52.6    2.0   108   30.2 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   13 11 16.4   -01 46 40    23.108   22.495   51.6    2.0   108   30.2 

    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.