C/2017 T1 (Heinze)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Jan 2018	10.0	1.154 AU	0.217 AU	05h36m	+62°01'	137.8°	34.9°	149°
Perihelion	22 Feb 2018	10.6	0.576 AU	1.226 AU	21h40m	+15°20'	27.5°	52.7°	337°
Today	14 May 2026	33.4	22.323 AU	22.122 AU	06h46m	-77°05'	100.2°	2.6°	132°

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 12.6 + 5 log[∆] + 10.4 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 T1 (Heinze) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9998480
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.5755330
    i (Inclination)                 : 97.01910
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 103.00590
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 96.93150
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 148.15375
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 80.14746
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458172.01030
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 232991.44

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   06 45 46.6   -77 08 23    22.118   22.317  100.1    2.6   131   33.4 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   06 46 18.2   -77 06 17    22.121   22.322  100.1    2.6   131   33.4 
2026-05-14 04:45 UT   06 46 24.6   -77 05 52    22.122   22.323  100.2    2.6   132   33.4 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   06 46 50.3   -77 04 13    22.125   22.327  100.2    2.6   132   33.4 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   06 47 22.9   -77 02 10    22.129   22.332  100.3    2.6   133   33.4 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   06 47 55.8   -77 00 10    22.133   22.338  100.4    2.6   134   33.4 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   06 48 29.1   -76 58 10    22.137   22.343  100.4    2.6   135   33.4 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   06 49 02.8   -76 56 13    22.141   22.348  100.5    2.6   136   33.4 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   06 49 36.8   -76 54 17    22.145   22.353  100.5    2.6   137   33.4 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   06 50 11.2   -76 52 22    22.149   22.358  100.6    2.6   137   33.4 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   06 50 46.0   -76 50 30    22.153   22.363  100.6    2.5   138   33.4 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   06 51 21.1   -76 48 39    22.158   22.368  100.7    2.5   139   33.4 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   06 51 56.5   -76 46 50    22.162   22.373  100.7    2.5   140   33.4 

    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.