C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 8 Jan 2020 | 10.3 | 0.974 AU | 1.618 AU | 17h52m | +05°17' | 34.0° | 34.4° | 325° |
Nearest approach | 21 Feb 2020 | 10.1 | 1.233 AU | 0.913 AU | 19h54m | +65°35' | 80.7° | 52.3° | 325° |
Today | 25 Apr 2024 | 26.7 | 13.934 AU | 14.519 AU | 05h30m | -06°57' | 52.8° | 3.3° | 113° |
C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)- 2024-04-25
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.)
The orbital elements of C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9991720
q (Perihelion distance) : 0.9736910
i (Inclination) : 120.56350
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.24290
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 68.03810
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 234.65856
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 52.99480
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458856.66710
P (Orbital period in years) : 40326.10
Epoch : 2024 Apr 25
Reference : MPEC 2022-YN2
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 (13.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.42 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 05 30 10.7 -06 58 39 14.503 13.928 53.5 3.3 112 26.7
2024-04-25 23:37 UT 05 30 20.7 -06 57 23 14.519 13.934 52.8 3.3 113 26.7
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 05 30 20.9 -06 57 22 14.520 13.934 52.7 3.3 113 26.7
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 05 30 31.2 -06 56 07 14.536 13.940 52.0 3.3 114 26.7
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 05 30 41.7 -06 54 53 14.553 13.947 51.3 3.2 114 26.7
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 05 30 52.4 -06 53 40 14.570 13.953 50.6 3.2 115 26.7
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 05 31 03.2 -06 52 29 14.586 13.959 49.9 3.2 116 26.7
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 05 31 14.2 -06 51 20 14.602 13.965 49.2 3.1 117 26.7
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 05 31 25.4 -06 50 12 14.618 13.972 48.5 3.1 118 26.7
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 05 31 36.7 -06 49 05 14.634 13.978 47.8 3.1 118 26.7
2024-05-04 00:00 UT 05 31 48.2 -06 48 00 14.650 13.984 47.1 3.0 119 26.7
2024-05-05 00:00 UT 05 31 59.8 -06 46 57 14.665 13.990 46.5 3.0 120 26.7
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.