C/2020 H3 (Wierzchos)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Jun 2020	17.7	2.300 AU	1.653 AU	20h06m	+19°31'	117.2°	23.1°	230°
Nearest approach	21 Jun 2020	17.7	2.307 AU	1.614 AU	19h50m	+29°26'	120.9°	22.2°	210°
Today	16 Jan 2026	30.9	15.781 AU	14.978 AU	05h20m	+36°38'	143.6°	2.1°	105°

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 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. (13.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

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 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)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   05 20 29.6   +36 40 08    14.957   15.773  145.0    2.1   106   30.9 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   05 20 14.7   +36 38 55    14.971   15.779  144.0    2.1   105   30.9 
2026-01-16 10:43 UT   05 20 08.1   +36 38 22    14.978   15.781  143.6    2.1   105   30.9 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   05 20 00.0   +36 37 42    14.987   15.784  143.0    2.1   105   30.9 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   05 19 45.6   +36 36 28    15.002   15.790  142.1    2.2   104   30.9 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   05 19 31.4   +36 35 13    15.017   15.796  141.1    2.2   103   30.9 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   05 19 17.4   +36 33 58    15.033   15.801  140.1    2.3   102   30.9 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   05 19 03.7   +36 32 43    15.049   15.807  139.1    2.3   102   30.9 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   05 18 50.3   +36 31 27    15.066   15.812  138.1    2.4   101   30.9 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   05 18 37.1   +36 30 10    15.082   15.818  137.1    2.4   101   30.9 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   05 18 24.2   +36 28 54    15.099   15.824  136.1    2.5   100   30.9 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   05 18 11.6   +36 27 36    15.116   15.829  135.1    2.5   100   30.9 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   05 17 59.3   +36 26 19    15.134   15.835  134.1    2.6    99   30.9 

    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.