C/2017 T1 (Heinze)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Jan 2018	10.0	1.150 AU	0.226 AU	06h16m	+69°12'	133.2°	38.6°	167°
Perihelion	20 Feb 2018	10.7	0.586 AU	1.233 AU	21h33m	+15°06'	27.9°	52.2°	338°
Today	1 May 2024	32.1	18.388 AU	18.197 AU	06h27m	-79°10'	99.4°	3.1°	124°

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 T1 (Heinze) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9999450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.5860040
            i (Inclination)                 : 96.93720
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 102.65210
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 97.04450
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 146.99755
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 80.12545
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458170.12690
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1099782.58

            Epoch                           : 2023 Apr 14
            Reference                       : MPC114600

            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 (14.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 12.63 + 5 log[∆] + 10.39 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
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   06 27 08.6   -79 12 47    18.194   18.383   99.2    3.1   124   32.1 
2024-05-01 22:07 UT   06 27 45.5   -79 10 13    18.197   18.388   99.4    3.1   124   32.1 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   06 27 48.6   -79 09 60    18.197   18.389   99.4    3.1   124   32.1 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   06 28 29.3   -79 07 14    18.200   18.395   99.5    3.1   125   32.1 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   06 29 10.5   -79 04 30    18.203   18.400   99.7    3.1   126   32.1 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   06 29 52.3   -79 01 48    18.206   18.406   99.8    3.1   127   32.1 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   06 30 34.7   -78 59 07    18.210   18.411   99.9    3.1   128   32.1 
2024-05-07 00:00 UT   06 31 17.6   -78 56 28    18.213   18.417  100.1    3.1   128   32.1 
2024-05-08 00:00 UT   06 32 01.0   -78 53 51    18.216   18.422  100.2    3.1   129   32.1 
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   06 32 45.0   -78 51 15    18.220   18.428  100.3    3.1   130   32.1 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   06 33 29.4   -78 48 42    18.223   18.434  100.4    3.1   131   32.1 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   06 34 14.4   -78 46 09    18.227   18.439  100.5    3.1   132   32.1 

    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.