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	22 Dec 2024	30.3	13.505 AU	12.576 AU	05h15m	+40°30'	160.1°	1.4°	146°

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
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   05 16 01.4   +40 31 43    12.570   13.502  160.4    1.4   148   30.3 
2024-12-22 14:42 UT   05 15 47.7   +40 30 56    12.576   13.505  160.1    1.4   146   30.3 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   05 15 39.0   +40 30 27    12.579   13.508  159.9    1.4   145   30.3 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   05 15 16.9   +40 29 09    12.588   13.514  159.4    1.5   142   30.3 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   05 14 54.8   +40 27 49    12.598   13.520  158.8    1.5   139   30.3 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   05 14 32.9   +40 26 28    12.607   13.526  158.2    1.5   137   30.3 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   05 14 11.2   +40 25 06    12.617   13.532  157.5    1.6   134   30.3 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   05 13 49.6   +40 23 42    12.628   13.538  156.9    1.6   132   30.3 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   05 13 28.2   +40 22 16    12.638   13.544  156.1    1.7   130   30.3 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   05 13 07.0   +40 20 49    12.649   13.550  155.4    1.7   128   30.3 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   05 12 46.0   +40 19 21    12.660   13.556  154.6    1.8   126   30.3 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   05 12 25.2   +40 17 52    12.672   13.562  153.9    1.8   124   30.3 

    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.