C/2018 A6 (Gibbs)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Mar 2019	13.9	3.183 AU	2.717 AU	08h49m	-60°43'	109.0°	17.2°	46°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2019	14.0	3.012 AU	3.068 AU	07h50m	-54°44'	77.3°	19.2°	172°
Today	17 Jun 2026	22.2	14.739 AU	14.745 AU	22h30m	+40°11'	87.6°	3.9°	241°

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)                : 0.7990500
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0121290
    i (Inclination)                 : 77.20270
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.50090
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 264.21480
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 45.92153
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -75.97571
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458675.35770
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 58.03

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jun 16
    Reference                       : MPC194155

    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
2026-06-16 00:00 UT   22 30 56.9   +40 06 30    14.757   14.734   86.7    3.9   242   22.2 
2026-06-17 00:00 UT   22 30 49.9   +40 09 38    14.749   14.737   87.3    3.9   241   22.2 
2026-06-17 10:51 UT   22 30 46.7   +40 11 03    14.745   14.739   87.6    3.9   241   22.2 
2026-06-18 00:00 UT   22 30 42.6   +40 12 45    14.741   14.741   88.0    3.9   241   22.2 
2026-06-19 00:00 UT   22 30 35.0   +40 15 49    14.732   14.744   88.7    4.0   240   22.2 
2026-06-20 00:00 UT   22 30 27.0   +40 18 52    14.724   14.748   89.4    4.0   239   22.2 
2026-06-21 00:00 UT   22 30 18.8   +40 21 53    14.716   14.752   90.0    4.0   239   22.2 
2026-06-22 00:00 UT   22 30 10.2   +40 24 51    14.708   14.755   90.7    3.9   238   22.2 
2026-06-23 00:00 UT   22 30 01.3   +40 27 48    14.699   14.759   91.4    3.9   237   22.2 
2026-06-24 00:00 UT   22 29 52.0   +40 30 43    14.691   14.763   92.0    3.9   236   22.2 
2026-06-25 00:00 UT   22 29 42.5   +40 33 35    14.683   14.766   92.7    3.9   236   22.2 
2026-06-26 00:00 UT   22 29 32.6   +40 36 26    14.675   14.770   93.4    3.9   235   22.2 
2026-06-27 00:00 UT   22 29 22.4   +40 39 14    14.667   14.773   94.0    3.9   234   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.