C/2018 F1 (Grauer) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 15 Apr 2018 | 18.8 | 3.783 AU | 2.860 AU | 12h39m | +13°27' | 153.2° | 6.9° | 149° |
Perihelion | 10 Dec 2018 | 17.8 | 2.996 AU | 3.751 AU | 16h41m | +11°13' | 34.8° | 10.8° | 349° |
Today | 28 Mar 2024 | 31.9 | 14.528 AU | 15.501 AU | 00h56m | -07°16' | 12.4° | 0.8° | 147° |
C/2018 F1 (Grauer)- 2024-03-28
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 F1 (Grauer) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9867340
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.9962930
i (Inclination) : 46.11170
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 177.28910
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 71.52570
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 241.55853
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 43.12187
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458463.24250
P (Orbital period in years) : 3394.43
Epoch : 2024 Mar 27
Reference : MPEC 2021-R75
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.25 + 5 log[∆] + 16.11 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
2024-03-28 00:00 UT 00 55 57.9 -07 16 45 15.498 14.526 12.5 0.9 145 31.9
2024-03-28 10:02 UT 00 56 04.8 -07 16 13 15.501 14.528 12.4 0.8 147 31.9
2024-03-29 00:00 UT 00 56 14.4 -07 15 27 15.505 14.532 12.3 0.8 149 31.9
2024-03-30 00:00 UT 00 56 31.0 -07 14 10 15.511 14.537 12.3 0.8 153 31.9
2024-03-31 00:00 UT 00 56 47.5 -07 12 54 15.517 14.543 12.2 0.8 158 31.9
2024-04-01 00:00 UT 00 57 04.0 -07 11 39 15.523 14.548 12.3 0.8 162 31.9
2024-04-02 00:00 UT 00 57 20.6 -07 10 24 15.528 14.554 12.4 0.8 166 31.9
2024-04-03 00:00 UT 00 57 37.1 -07 09 10 15.533 14.559 12.6 0.9 170 31.9
2024-04-04 00:00 UT 00 57 53.7 -07 07 57 15.538 14.565 12.9 0.9 174 31.9
2024-04-05 00:00 UT 00 58 10.2 -07 06 45 15.542 14.571 13.2 0.9 178 31.9
2024-04-06 00:00 UT 00 58 26.8 -07 05 34 15.547 14.576 13.5 0.9 182 32.0
2024-04-07 00:00 UT 00 58 43.3 -07 04 23 15.551 14.582 13.9 0.9 185 32.0
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.