C/2018 X2 (Fitzsimmons)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Jan 2019	18.0	2.982 AU	2.248 AU	03h32m	+51°19'	130.5°	14.5°	105°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2019	16.5	2.110 AU	2.985 AU	09h04m	+21°49'	25.2°	11.9°	96°
Today	8 Jan 2026	33.2	17.431 AU	18.360 AU	19h18m	-40°43'	18.5°	1.0°	180°

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 9.7 + 5 log[∆] + 13.8 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 X2 (Fitzsimmons) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9851180
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1103720
    i (Inclination)                 : 23.11630
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.59880
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 162.04230
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 324.00046
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 6.95236
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458674.74680
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1688.68

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPC119996

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-07 00:00 UT   19 17 29.2   -40 44 06    18.352   17.422   18.4    1.0   175   33.1 
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   19 17 48.2   -40 43 33    18.357   17.427   18.4    1.0   178   33.1 
2026-01-08 18:14 UT   19 18 02.6   -40 43 09    18.360   17.431   18.5    1.0   180   33.2 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   19 18 07.2   -40 43 01    18.362   17.433   18.5    1.0   181   33.2 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   19 18 26.2   -40 42 30    18.366   17.438   18.7    1.0   184   33.2 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   19 18 45.1   -40 42 00    18.370   17.443   18.9    1.0   187   33.2 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   19 19 04.1   -40 41 31    18.374   17.448   19.2    1.1   190   33.2 
2026-01-13 00:00 UT   19 19 23.0   -40 41 02    18.377   17.454   19.5    1.1   192   33.2 
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   19 19 41.8   -40 40 35    18.381   17.459   19.8    1.1   195   33.2 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   19 20 00.7   -40 40 08    18.384   17.464   20.2    1.1   197   33.2 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   19 20 19.5   -40 39 43    18.386   17.469   20.6    1.1   200   33.2 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   19 20 38.2   -40 39 18    18.389   17.475   21.0    1.2   202   33.2 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   19 20 57.0   -40 38 55    18.391   17.480   21.5    1.2   205   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.