C/2017 O1 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Oct 2017	10.8	1.491 AU	0.697 AU	04h33m	+51°36'	122.3°	34.4°	240°
Nearest approach	17 Oct 2017	10.8	1.491 AU	0.696 AU	04h35m	+53°25'	122.4°	34.3°	238°
Today	9 May 2025	29.3	20.150 AU	19.295 AU	13h10m	-00°00'	147.1°	1.6°	123°

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 O1 (ASASSN) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9961060
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4906670
            i (Inclination)                 : 39.99240
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 25.71300
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 20.84740
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.97765
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.22168
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458042.56890
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 7489.92

            Epoch                           : 2022 Nov 15
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-OB6

            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 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 (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.86 + 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   13 10 26.0   +00 00 17    19.291   20.149  147.3    1.6   123   29.3 
2025-05-09 05:41 UT   13 10 23.8   +00 00 09    19.295   20.150  147.1    1.6   123   29.3 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   13 10 16.8   +00 00 17    19.305   20.154  146.3    1.6   123   29.3 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   13 10 07.7   +00 00 50    19.320   20.159  145.3    1.6   123   29.3 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   13 09 58.6   +00 01 21    19.334   20.164  144.4    1.7   122   29.3 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   13 09 49.7   +00 01 52    19.349   20.169  143.4    1.7   122   29.3 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   13 09 40.9   +00 02 22    19.364   20.174  142.4    1.8   121   29.3 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   13 09 32.2   +00 02 51    19.379   20.180  141.4    1.8   121   29.3 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   13 09 23.7   +00 03 19    19.395   20.185  140.4    1.8   121   29.3 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   13 09 15.3   +00 03 45    19.410   20.190  139.4    1.9   121   29.4 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   13 09 07.0   +00 04 11    19.426   20.195  138.5    1.9   120   29.4 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   13 08 58.8   +00 04 35    19.442   20.200  137.5    1.9   120   29.4 

    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.