C/2018 A6 (Gibbs)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	16 Mar 2019	13.9	3.188 AU	2.725 AU	08h48m	-60°58'	108.8°	17.2°	46°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2019	14.0	3.019 AU	3.071 AU	07h50m	-54°53'	77.5°	19.2°	172°
Today	17 Sep 2025	21.7	13.721 AU	12.993 AU	22h08m	+37°39'	134.9°	3.0°	147°

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/2018 A6 (Gibbs) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7988910
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0186980
            i (Inclination)                 : 77.11040
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.41600
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 264.30930
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 46.34514
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -75.92956
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458674.97300
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 58.15

            Epoch                           : 2024 Jun 06
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-KD0

            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 (9.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.22 + 5 log[∆] + 6.98 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
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   22 08 32.3   +37 40 29    12.991   13.719  134.9    3.0   148   21.7 
2025-09-17 11:45 UT   22 08 22.4   +37 39 39    12.993   13.721  134.9    3.0   147   21.7 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   22 08 12.2   +37 38 47    12.995   13.723  134.9    3.0   146   21.7 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   22 07 52.3   +37 37 02    13.000   13.727  134.8    3.0   145   21.7 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   22 07 32.7   +37 35 14    13.005   13.731  134.7    3.0   143   21.7 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   22 07 13.2   +37 33 24    13.011   13.734  134.6    3.0   142   21.7 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   22 06 53.9   +37 31 31    13.016   13.738  134.5    3.0   140   21.7 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   22 06 34.9   +37 29 35    13.022   13.742  134.3    3.0   139   21.7 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   22 06 16.0   +37 27 36    13.028   13.746  134.1    3.0   137   21.7 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   22 05 57.4   +37 25 35    13.034   13.750  134.0    3.0   136   21.7 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   22 05 39.0   +37 23 32    13.041   13.754  133.8    3.0   134   21.7 
2025-09-27 00:00 UT   22 05 20.9   +37 21 26    13.048   13.758  133.5    3.0   133   21.7 

    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.