C/2020 H3 (Wierzchos)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	31 May 2020	17.8	2.306 AU	1.700 AU	20h12m	+17°21'	114.0°	23.7°	235°
Nearest approach	20 Jun 2020	17.7	2.317 AU	1.638 AU	19h54m	+30°03'	119.7°	22.4°	211°
Today	7 Sep 2026	31.5	17.110 AU	17.303 AU	05h48m	+35°16'	77.3°	3.3°	272°

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)                : 1.0002450
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3060730
    i (Inclination)                 : 62.27800
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 270.63560
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 29.52160
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.39315
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 25.86111
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459001.40860

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194166

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-06 00:00 UT   05 48 20.0   +35 15 40    17.320   17.102   75.8    3.3   272   31.5 
2026-09-07 00:00 UT   05 48 24.5   +35 15 59    17.309   17.107   76.7    3.3   272   31.5 
2026-09-07 13:44 UT   05 48 26.9   +35 16 10    17.303   17.110   77.3    3.3   272   31.5 
2026-09-08 00:00 UT   05 48 28.6   +35 16 18    17.299   17.113   77.7    3.3   271   31.5 
2026-09-09 00:00 UT   05 48 32.5   +35 16 38    17.288   17.118   78.6    3.3   271   31.5 
2026-09-10 00:00 UT   05 48 36.1   +35 16 57    17.277   17.124   79.6    3.3   271   31.5 
2026-09-11 00:00 UT   05 48 39.5   +35 17 17    17.266   17.129   80.5    3.3   271   31.5 
2026-09-12 00:00 UT   05 48 42.5   +35 17 36    17.255   17.134   81.4    3.3   271   31.5 
2026-09-13 00:00 UT   05 48 45.3   +35 17 56    17.244   17.140   82.4    3.3   270   31.5 
2026-09-14 00:00 UT   05 48 47.8   +35 18 16    17.233   17.145   83.3    3.3   270   31.5 
2026-09-15 00:00 UT   05 48 50.0   +35 18 36    17.222   17.151   84.3    3.3   270   31.5 
2026-09-16 00:00 UT   05 48 52.0   +35 18 55    17.210   17.156   85.2    3.3   270   31.5 
2026-09-17 00:00 UT   05 48 53.6   +35 19 15    17.199   17.162   86.2    3.4   270   31.5 

    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.