C/2018 M1 (Catalina) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 10 Jul 2018 | 17.1 | 1.308 AU | 1.238 AU | 02h11m | +22°52' | 70.1° | 47.0° | 254° |
Nearest approach | 25 Jul 2018 | 17.2 | 1.325 AU | 1.219 AU | 02h52m | +35°01' | 72.1° | 46.8° | 258° |
Today | 18 Apr 2024 | 33.2 | 15.273 AU | 14.790 AU | 10h02m | +20°40' | 117.0° | 3.4° | 115° |
C/2018 M1 (Catalina)- 2024-04-18
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 M1 (Catalina) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9392650
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.3080280
i (Inclination) : 37.25070
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 339.43350
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 14.27360
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 350.88142
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 8.58284
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458310.37080
P (Orbital period in years) : 99.95
Epoch : 2023 Sep 24
Reference : MPC117070
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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (15.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-04-18 00:00 UT 10 02 55.8 +20 40 22 14.788 15.272 117.1 3.4 115 33.2
2024-04-18 03:26 UT 10 02 54.8 +20 40 21 14.790 15.273 117.0 3.4 115 33.2
2024-04-19 00:00 UT 10 02 48.9 +20 40 11 14.807 15.277 116.1 3.4 115 33.2
2024-04-20 00:00 UT 10 02 42.2 +20 39 58 14.827 15.281 115.1 3.4 114 33.2
2024-04-21 00:00 UT 10 02 35.7 +20 39 43 14.847 15.286 114.2 3.4 114 33.2
2024-04-22 00:00 UT 10 02 29.5 +20 39 27 14.867 15.291 113.2 3.5 114 33.2
2024-04-23 00:00 UT 10 02 23.6 +20 39 10 14.887 15.295 112.2 3.5 114 33.2
2024-04-24 00:00 UT 10 02 17.9 +20 38 51 14.907 15.300 111.2 3.5 114 33.2
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 10 02 12.5 +20 38 31 14.927 15.305 110.2 3.5 113 33.2
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 10 02 07.4 +20 38 09 14.948 15.309 109.3 3.6 113 33.2
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 10 02 02.5 +20 37 46 14.968 15.314 108.3 3.6 113 33.2
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 10 01 57.9 +20 37 21 14.989 15.319 107.3 3.6 113 33.2
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.