A/2020 A1
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	29 Nov 2019	21.1	1.676 AU	2.144 AU	12h43m	-26°17'	49.2°	26.5°	276°
Nearest approach	1 Feb 2020	19.0	1.864 AU	0.916 AU	09h07m	-05°16'	157.4°	11.7°	354°
Today	11 Mar 2026	29.5	16.087 AU	16.778 AU	00h41m	+36°54'	44.6°	2.5°	28°

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)                : 0.9341810
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6757910
    i (Inclination)                 : 149.03150
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 119.04140
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 302.42210
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 172.51202
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -25.74437
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458816.90870
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 128.47

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 10
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   00 41 34.0   +36 54 15    16.762   16.082   45.4    2.5    29   29.5 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   00 41 47.4   +36 54 26    16.776   16.086   44.7    2.5    28   29.5 
2026-03-11 03:42 UT   00 41 49.5   +36 54 28    16.778   16.087   44.6    2.5    28   29.5 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   00 42 00.9   +36 54 40    16.790   16.091   44.1    2.5    27   29.5 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   00 42 14.5   +36 54 56    16.803   16.096   43.4    2.4    26   29.5 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   00 42 28.2   +36 55 15    16.816   16.100   42.7    2.4    25   29.5 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   00 42 42.0   +36 55 35    16.829   16.105   42.1    2.4    24   29.5 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   00 42 55.8   +36 55 57    16.841   16.109   41.4    2.3    23   29.5 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   00 43 09.7   +36 56 22    16.854   16.114   40.8    2.3    22   29.5 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   00 43 23.7   +36 56 49    16.866   16.119   40.2    2.3    21   29.5 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   00 43 37.7   +36 57 17    16.878   16.123   39.5    2.3    20   29.5 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   00 43 51.7   +36 57 48    16.890   16.128   38.9    2.2    19   29.5 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   00 44 05.8   +36 58 21    16.901   16.133   38.3    2.2    18   29.5 

    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.