C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	7 Jan 2020	10.3	0.974 AU	1.619 AU	17h52m	+05°16'	34.0°	34.4°	325°
Nearest approach	21 Feb 2020	10.1	1.233 AU	0.913 AU	19h54m	+65°36'	80.8°	52.3°	325°
Today	27 Jul 2024	26.9	14.506 AU	15.186 AU	05h50m	-07°04'	46.4°	2.9°	235°

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)                : 0.9991300
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9737950
            i (Inclination)                 : 120.54700
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.22810
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 68.02790
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 234.67169
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 53.00227
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458856.49280
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 37447.47

            Epoch                           : 2024 Jul 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 9.41 + 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
2024-07-27 00:00 UT   05 50 46.9   -07 04 16    15.187   14.505   46.4    2.9   235   26.9 
2024-07-27 02:49 UT   05 50 48.3   -07 04 27    15.186   14.506   46.4    2.9   235   26.9 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   05 50 58.2   -07 05 45    15.184   14.511   47.0    2.9   236   26.9 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   05 51 09.3   -07 07 16    15.181   14.517   47.7    3.0   236   26.9 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   05 51 20.2   -07 08 48    15.178   14.523   48.4    3.0   237   26.9 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   05 51 31.0   -07 10 21    15.174   14.530   49.0    3.0   238   26.9 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   05 51 41.7   -07 11 56    15.171   14.536   49.7    3.1   239   26.9 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   05 51 52.1   -07 13 33    15.167   14.542   50.4    3.1   240   26.9 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   05 52 02.4   -07 15 12    15.163   14.548   51.1    3.1   241   26.9 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   05 52 12.5   -07 16 52    15.159   14.554   51.8    3.1   241   26.9 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   05 52 22.5   -07 18 33    15.155   14.560   52.5    3.2   242   26.9 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   05 52 32.2   -07 20 16    15.150   14.566   53.2    3.2   243   26.9 

    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.