C/2018 A6 (Gibbs)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Mar 2019	13.9	3.184 AU	2.718 AU	08h48m	-60°47'	109.0°	17.2°	46°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2019	14.0	3.013 AU	3.068 AU	07h50m	-54°45'	77.3°	19.2°	172°
Today	8 Apr 2026	22.2	14.485 AU	15.152 AU	22h26m	+36°08'	46.8°	2.9°	298°

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 8.2 + 5 log[∆] + 7.0 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/2018 A6 (Gibbs) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7989820
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0133330
    i (Inclination)                 : 77.19640
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.49410
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 264.22570
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 45.96633
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -75.97440
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458675.15450
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 58.04

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 08
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   22 26 26.9   +36 02 20    15.154   14.479   46.1    2.9   300   22.2 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   22 26 39.6   +36 05 34    15.153   14.482   46.5    2.9   299   22.2 
2026-04-08 18:34 UT   22 26 49.3   +36 08 05    15.152   14.485   46.8    2.9   298   22.2 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   22 26 52.2   +36 08 49    15.152   14.486   46.9    2.9   298   22.2 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   22 27 04.5   +36 12 06    15.150   14.490   47.3    2.9   297   22.2 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   22 27 16.6   +36 15 24    15.149   14.493   47.7    2.9   296   22.2 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   22 27 28.6   +36 18 44    15.147   14.497   48.1    2.9   294   22.2 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   22 27 40.3   +36 22 04    15.145   14.501   48.5    3.0   293   22.2 
2026-04-14 00:00 UT   22 27 51.9   +36 25 26    15.143   14.504   48.9    3.0   292   22.2 
2026-04-15 00:00 UT   22 28 03.2   +36 28 49    15.141   14.508   49.4    3.0   291   22.2 
2026-04-16 00:00 UT   22 28 14.3   +36 32 13    15.138   14.512   49.8    3.0   290   22.2 
2026-04-17 00:00 UT   22 28 25.2   +36 35 38    15.136   14.515   50.3    3.0   289   22.2 
2026-04-18 00:00 UT   22 28 35.8   +36 39 04    15.133   14.519   50.8    3.1   288   22.2 

    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.