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	7 Mar 2026	22.2	14.365 AU	15.089 AU	22h18m	+34°36'	41.8°	2.6°	341°

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)                : 0.7988910
    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)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   22 18 22.9   +34 34 16    15.084   14.362   41.9    2.6   343   22.2 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   22 18 39.8   +34 36 30    15.089   14.365   41.8    2.6   341   22.2 
2026-03-07 00:40 UT   22 18 40.2   +34 36 34    15.089   14.365   41.8    2.6   341   22.2 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   22 18 56.6   +34 38 46    15.094   14.369   41.7    2.6   340   22.2 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   22 19 13.3   +34 41 04    15.099   14.373   41.6    2.6   338   22.2 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   22 19 29.9   +34 43 24    15.104   14.376   41.5    2.6   337   22.2 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   22 19 46.5   +34 45 47    15.109   14.380   41.5    2.6   336   22.2 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   22 20 03.0   +34 48 12    15.113   14.384   41.5    2.6   334   22.2 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   22 20 19.4   +34 50 39    15.117   14.387   41.4    2.6   333   22.2 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   22 20 35.7   +34 53 08    15.121   14.391   41.4    2.6   331   22.2 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   22 20 51.9   +34 55 40    15.125   14.395   41.5    2.6   330   22.2 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   22 21 08.1   +34 58 13    15.128   14.399   41.5    2.6   329   22.2 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   22 21 24.1   +35 00 49    15.131   14.402   41.5    2.6   327   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.