C/2018 X2 (Fitzsimmons)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	6 Jan 2019	18.0	2.969 AU	2.234 AU	03h35m	+51°27'	130.6°	14.6°	105°
Perihelion	8 Jul 2019	16.6	2.115 AU	2.979 AU	09h03m	+21°58'	26.2°	12.3°	96°
Today	19 Apr 2024	31.2	13.950 AU	13.670 AU	19h13m	-43°23'	104.2°	4.0°	268°

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 X2 (Fitzsimmons) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9848070
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1147740
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.08620
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.73260
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 161.94490
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 324.03981
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 6.98035
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458673.35290
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1642.22

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 18
            Reference                       : MPC119996

            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 (12.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.70 + 5 log[∆] + 13.80 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
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   19 13 16.7   -43 23 34    13.672   13.948  104.0    4.0   268   31.2 
2024-04-19 05:16 UT   19 13 16.3   -43 23 52    13.670   13.950  104.2    4.0   268   31.2 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   19 13 14.6   -43 24 58    13.662   13.954  104.9    4.0   268   31.2 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   19 13 12.1   -43 26 22    13.653   13.960  105.8    4.0   269   31.2 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   19 13 09.2   -43 27 47    13.643   13.966  106.7    4.0   269   31.2 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   19 13 05.9   -43 29 11    13.634   13.972  107.6    3.9   269   31.2 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   19 13 02.3   -43 30 36    13.625   13.977  108.5    3.9   270   31.2 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   19 12 58.2   -43 32 01    13.616   13.983  109.4    3.9   270   31.2 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   19 12 53.8   -43 33 26    13.607   13.989  110.4    3.9   271   31.2 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   19 12 48.9   -43 34 51    13.598   13.995  111.3    3.8   271   31.2 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   19 12 43.7   -43 36 16    13.589   14.001  112.2    3.8   271   31.2 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   19 12 38.1   -43 37 42    13.581   14.007  113.1    3.8   272   31.2 

    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.