C/2020 H4 (Leonard) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 9 Jul 2020 | 16.1 | 1.278 AU | 1.139 AU | 23h49m | +77°46' | 72.5° | 49.3° | 245° |
Perihelion | 29 Aug 2020 | 15.7 | 0.925 AU | 1.598 AU | 10h41m | +41°43' | 32.6° | 36.1° | 4° |
Today | 25 Apr 2024 | 29.1 | 12.095 AU | 12.038 AU | 06h19m | -65°01' | 90.8° | 4.8° | 121° |
C/2020 H4 (Leonard)- 2024-04-25
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 H4 (Leonard) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9806600
q (Perihelion distance) : 0.9247810
i (Inclination) : 84.49670
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 307.57840
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 117.52150
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 297.14930
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 61.97587
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459091.07850
P (Orbital period in years) : 330.65
Epoch : 2024 Apr 24
Reference : MPEC 2020-L06
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 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. (15.00 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 06 19 09.7 -65 03 36 12.035 12.092 90.8 4.8 121 29.1
2024-04-25 11:10 UT 06 19 19.7 -65 01 53 12.038 12.095 90.8 4.8 121 29.1
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 06 19 31.3 -64 59 55 12.042 12.098 90.8 4.8 121 29.1
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 06 19 53.4 -64 56 17 12.049 12.105 90.8 4.8 122 29.1
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 06 20 16.0 -64 52 42 12.056 12.111 90.7 4.8 123 29.1
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 06 20 39.2 -64 49 09 12.063 12.117 90.7 4.8 124 29.1
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 06 21 02.8 -64 45 39 12.070 12.123 90.6 4.8 125 29.1
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 06 21 27.0 -64 42 12 12.077 12.130 90.6 4.8 126 29.1
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 06 21 51.7 -64 38 47 12.084 12.136 90.5 4.8 127 29.1
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 06 22 16.9 -64 35 26 12.091 12.142 90.5 4.8 128 29.1
2024-05-04 00:00 UT 06 22 42.5 -64 32 08 12.098 12.148 90.4 4.8 129 29.1
2024-05-05 00:00 UT 06 23 08.7 -64 28 52 12.105 12.155 90.4 4.8 129 29.1
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.