P/2017 W3 (Gibbs)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion25 Feb 201818.73.861 AU2.984 AU12h04m-14°00'148.2°7.8°315°
Nearest approach24 Mar 201818.63.864 AU2.882 AU11h53m-11°38'168.7°2.9°27°
Today26 Apr 202425.610.104 AU10.473 AU21h51m+03°51'65.9°5.2°257°
P/2017 W3 (Gibbs)- 2024-04-26
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 P/2017 W3 (Gibbs) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.5065100
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.8608120
            i (Inclination)                 : 18.17580
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 210.13910
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 327.77200
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 179.21914
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -9.57573
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458175.49100
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 21.88

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 25
            Reference                       : MPC114601

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 (10.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.45 + 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   21 51 03.0   +03 51 09    10.477   10.103   65.6    5.2   257   25.6 
2024-04-26 06:49 UT   21 51 06.5   +03 51 50    10.473   10.104   65.9    5.2   257   25.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   21 51 15.3   +03 53 32    10.464   10.105   66.5    5.2   257   25.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   21 51 27.3   +03 55 55    10.452   10.107   67.4    5.3   256   25.6 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   21 51 39.0   +03 58 17    10.439   10.109   68.2    5.3   256   25.6 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   21 51 50.3   +04 00 38    10.426   10.111   69.1    5.3   256   25.6 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   21 52 01.4   +04 02 58    10.413   10.113   70.0    5.4   255   25.6 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   21 52 12.1   +04 05 17    10.401   10.115   70.9    5.4   255   25.6 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   21 52 22.5   +04 07 35    10.387   10.117   71.7    5.4   255   25.6 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   21 52 32.5   +04 09 52    10.374   10.119   72.6    5.5   255   25.6 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   21 52 42.3   +04 12 08    10.361   10.121   73.5    5.5   254   25.6 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   21 52 51.7   +04 14 23    10.348   10.123   74.4    5.5   254   25.6 


    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.