C/2018 X2 (Fitzsimmons)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Jan 2019	18.0	2.984 AU	2.251 AU	03h31m	+51°18'	130.5°	14.5°	105°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2019	16.5	2.110 AU	2.987 AU	09h05m	+21°47'	25.1°	11.8°	96°
Today	11 May 2026	33.3	18.072 AU	17.556 AU	19h36m	-41°35'	119.3°	2.8°	272°

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)                : 0.9851830
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1104710
    i (Inclination)                 : 23.12240
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.57440
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 162.07250
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 324.00496
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 6.94274
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458675.03840
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1699.92

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   19 36 59.0   -41 34 27    17.568   18.065  118.0    2.8   271   33.3 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   19 36 52.8   -41 35 32    17.559   18.070  118.9    2.8   271   33.3 
2026-05-11 09:55 UT   19 36 50.2   -41 35 60    17.556   18.072  119.3    2.8   272   33.3 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   19 36 46.4   -41 36 38    17.551   18.075  119.9    2.8   272   33.3 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   19 36 39.6   -41 37 43    17.542   18.080  120.8    2.8   272   33.3 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   19 36 32.6   -41 38 49    17.534   18.086  121.7    2.7   273   33.3 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   19 36 25.3   -41 39 54    17.526   18.091  122.6    2.7   273   33.3 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   19 36 17.8   -41 40 59    17.518   18.096  123.5    2.7   274   33.3 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   19 36 09.9   -41 42 04    17.510   18.101  124.4    2.6   274   33.3 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   19 36 01.9   -41 43 09    17.503   18.106  125.3    2.6   275   33.3 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   19 35 53.5   -41 44 14    17.495   18.111  126.2    2.6   275   33.3 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   19 35 44.9   -41 45 18    17.488   18.117  127.1    2.6   276   33.3 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   19 35 36.1   -41 46 22    17.481   18.122  128.0    2.5   277   33.3 

    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.