|
A/2020 A1 |
| ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
| Perihelion | 29 Nov 2019 | 21.1 | 1.674 AU | 2.138 AU | 12h43m | -26°23' | 49.4° | 26.6° | 276° |
| Nearest approach | 1 Feb 2020 | 19.0 | 1.861 AU | 0.913 AU | 09h07m | -05°24' | 157.3° | 11.8° | 354° |
| Today | 2 Nov 2025 | 29.1 | 15.482 AU | 14.656 AU | 00h43m | +40°54' | 145.2° | 2.1° | 131° |
A/2020 A1- 2025-11-02
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.)
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.
The displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=17.10; G=.15).
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 A/2020 A1 are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9342610
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.6735720
i (Inclination) : 149.03150
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 119.04850
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 302.40620
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 172.53593
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -25.74924
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458817.30180
P (Orbital period in years) : 128.45
Epoch : 2025 Nov 01
Reference : MPEC 2023-A50
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)
Ephemerides
Date Time RA (2000) DEC (2000) delta radius elong phase PA magn
2025-11-01 00:00 UT 00 44 19.9 +40 57 38 14.646 15.476 145.6 2.1 134 29.1
2025-11-02 00:00 UT 00 44 00.4 +40 55 08 14.654 15.481 145.3 2.1 132 29.1
2025-11-02 05:05 UT 00 43 56.3 +40 54 36 14.656 15.482 145.2 2.1 131 29.1
2025-11-03 00:00 UT 00 43 41.0 +40 52 36 14.662 15.485 145.0 2.1 130 29.1
2025-11-04 00:00 UT 00 43 21.9 +40 50 03 14.670 15.490 144.6 2.1 128 29.1
2025-11-05 00:00 UT 00 43 03.0 +40 47 28 14.679 15.495 144.3 2.1 126 29.1
2025-11-06 00:00 UT 00 42 44.3 +40 44 51 14.688 15.500 143.9 2.2 125 29.1
2025-11-07 00:00 UT 00 42 25.8 +40 42 14 14.697 15.504 143.4 2.2 123 29.1
2025-11-08 00:00 UT 00 42 07.5 +40 39 34 14.706 15.509 143.0 2.2 121 29.1
2025-11-09 00:00 UT 00 41 49.5 +40 36 54 14.716 15.514 142.5 2.2 120 29.1
2025-11-10 00:00 UT 00 41 31.7 +40 34 12 14.726 15.519 142.0 2.3 118 29.2
2025-11-11 00:00 UT 00 41 14.2 +40 31 30 14.736 15.523 141.5 2.3 116 29.2
2025-11-12 00:00 UT 00 40 57.0 +40 28 46 14.746 15.528 141.0 2.3 115 29.2
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.
