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	08h48m	-60°44'	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	3 Jun 2026	22.2	14.688 AU	14.860 AU	22h31m	+39°24'	78.3°	3.9°	251°

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)                : 0.7990350
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0123820
    i (Inclination)                 : 77.20170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.49980
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 264.21690
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 45.93002
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -75.97565
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458675.31220
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 58.03

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jun 02
    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
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   22 32 00.0   +39 20 02    14.871   14.683   77.4    3.9   252   22.2 
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   22 31 57.7   +39 23 30    14.863   14.687   78.0    3.9   251   22.2 
2026-06-03 10:05 UT   22 31 56.6   +39 24 56    14.860   14.688   78.3    3.9   251   22.2 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   22 31 54.9   +39 26 56    14.855   14.690   78.7    3.9   250   22.2 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   22 31 51.9   +39 30 21    14.847   14.694   79.3    3.9   250   22.2 
2026-06-06 00:00 UT   22 31 48.5   +39 33 45    14.839   14.697   80.0    3.9   249   22.2 
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   22 31 44.9   +39 37 07    14.831   14.701   80.7    3.9   248   22.2 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   22 31 40.8   +39 40 29    14.823   14.705   81.3    3.9   248   22.2 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   22 31 36.5   +39 43 49    14.815   14.708   82.0    3.9   247   22.2 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   22 31 31.8   +39 47 08    14.807   14.712   82.7    3.9   246   22.2 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   22 31 26.8   +39 50 26    14.799   14.716   83.3    3.9   245   22.2 
2026-06-12 00:00 UT   22 31 21.5   +39 53 42    14.790   14.719   84.0    3.9   245   22.2 
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   22 31 15.8   +39 56 56    14.782   14.723   84.7    3.9   244   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.