C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion8 Jan 202010.30.974 AU1.618 AU17h52m+05°17'34.0°34.4°325°
Nearest approach21 Feb 202010.11.233 AU0.913 AU19h54m+65°35'80.7°52.3°325°
Today9 May 202426.714.018 AU14.731 AU05h32m-06°42'43.6°2.8°124°
C/2020 A2 (Iwamoto)- 2024-05-09
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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)                : 0.9991660
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9736880
            i (Inclination)                 : 120.56090
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.24060
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 68.03630
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 234.66093
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 52.99588
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458856.64600
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 39891.53

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   05 32 47.8   -06 42 60    14.725   14.015   43.9    2.9   124   26.7 
2024-05-09 09:50 UT   05 32 52.8   -06 42 37    14.731   14.018   43.6    2.8   124   26.7 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   05 33 00.1   -06 42 05    14.740   14.022   43.2    2.8   125   26.7 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   05 33 12.6   -06 41 11    14.754   14.028   42.6    2.8   126   26.7 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   05 33 25.2   -06 40 19    14.768   14.034   42.0    2.8   127   26.7 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   05 33 37.9   -06 39 29    14.782   14.040   41.4    2.7   128   26.7 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   05 33 50.8   -06 38 41    14.796   14.047   40.8    2.7   129   26.7 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   05 34 03.7   -06 37 54    14.809   14.053   40.2    2.7   130   26.7 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   05 34 16.7   -06 37 10    14.822   14.059   39.6    2.6   131   26.8 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   05 34 29.9   -06 36 26    14.836   14.065   39.1    2.6   132   26.8 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   05 34 43.2   -06 35 45    14.848   14.072   38.5    2.6   133   26.8 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   05 34 56.5   -06 35 05    14.861   14.078   38.0    2.5   134   26.8 


    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.