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°57' | 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 | 23 Apr 2024 | 21.1 | 11.613 AU | 12.232 AU | 22h40m | +27°34' | 50.2° | 3.8° | 276° |
C/2018 A6 (Gibbs)- 2024-04-23
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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) : 0.7989220
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.0187020
i (Inclination) : 77.10450
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.41150
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 264.31320
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 46.36495
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -75.92572
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458675.04890
P (Orbital period in years) : 58.17
Epoch : 2024 Apr 23
Reference : MPEC 2024-GJ3
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
2024-04-23 00:00 UT 22 39 53.3 +27 31 40 12.235 11.610 49.7 3.8 277 21.1
2024-04-23 17:31 UT 22 40 01.1 +27 34 40 12.232 11.613 50.2 3.8 276 21.1
2024-04-24 00:00 UT 22 40 04.0 +27 35 46 12.231 11.615 50.3 3.8 276 21.1
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 22 40 14.5 +27 39 54 12.226 11.619 51.0 3.9 275 21.1
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 22 40 24.7 +27 44 01 12.221 11.623 51.7 3.9 275 21.1
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 22 40 34.7 +27 48 09 12.215 11.628 52.3 3.9 274 21.1
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 22 40 44.4 +27 52 18 12.210 11.632 53.0 4.0 273 21.1
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 22 40 53.8 +27 56 27 12.205 11.637 53.7 4.0 272 21.1
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 22 41 02.9 +28 00 36 12.199 11.641 54.4 4.0 272 21.1
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 22 41 11.8 +28 04 46 12.193 11.645 55.0 4.1 271 21.1
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 22 41 20.3 +28 08 56 12.187 11.650 55.7 4.1 270 21.1
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 22 41 28.6 +28 13 06 12.181 11.654 56.4 4.1 269 21.1
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.