C/2020 H3 (Wierzchos) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 5 Jun 2020 | 18.2 | 2.300 AU | 1.653 AU | 20h06m | +19°31' | 117.2° | 23.1° | 230° |
Nearest approach | 21 Jun 2020 | 18.2 | 2.307 AU | 1.614 AU | 19h50m | +29°26' | 120.9° | 22.2° | 210° |
Today | 1 Jul 2025 | 31.1 | 14.635 AU | 15.585 AU | 05h30m | +36°47' | 20.2° | 1.4° | 308° |
C/2020 H3 (Wierzchos)- 2025-07-01
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 H3 (Wierzchos) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0000000
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.3002880
i (Inclination) : 62.52920
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 270.62270
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 30.44560
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 285.79286
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 26.71708
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459006.21610
Epoch :
Reference : MPEC 2020-HM1
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (13.50 + 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
2025-07-01 00:00 UT 05 30 56.9 +36 47 10 15.585 14.635 20.1 1.4 308 31.1
2025-07-01 01:20 UT 05 30 57.9 +36 47 10 15.585 14.635 20.2 1.4 308 31.1
2025-07-02 00:00 UT 05 31 16.1 +36 47 08 15.586 14.641 20.8 1.4 306 31.1
2025-07-03 00:00 UT 05 31 35.2 +36 47 06 15.587 14.646 21.5 1.5 305 31.1
2025-07-04 00:00 UT 05 31 54.2 +36 47 05 15.588 14.652 22.1 1.5 303 31.1
2025-07-05 00:00 UT 05 32 13.1 +36 47 04 15.589 14.658 22.8 1.5 302 31.1
2025-07-06 00:00 UT 05 32 31.8 +36 47 04 15.590 14.664 23.6 1.6 301 31.1
2025-07-07 00:00 UT 05 32 50.5 +36 47 05 15.590 14.670 24.3 1.6 299 31.1
2025-07-08 00:00 UT 05 33 09.1 +36 47 06 15.590 14.676 25.0 1.7 298 31.1
2025-07-09 00:00 UT 05 33 27.5 +36 47 07 15.590 14.681 25.8 1.7 297 31.1
2025-07-10 00:00 UT 05 33 45.9 +36 47 10 15.589 14.687 26.5 1.8 296 31.1
2025-07-11 00:00 UT 05 34 04.1 +36 47 13 15.589 14.693 27.3 1.8 295 31.1
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.