A/2020 H9
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Dec 2019	22.4	2.561 AU	3.422 AU	16h53m	-44°23'	24.6°	9.2°	217°
Nearest approach	22 Apr 2020	21.2	2.872 AU	1.887 AU	14h32m	-24°32'	165.7°	5.0°	327°
Today	13 Feb 2026	29.5	16.572 AU	15.885 AU	09h55m	+60°37'	132.8°	2.5°	183°

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 displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=17.10; G=.15).

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 A/2020 H9 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9923700
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5605440
    i (Inclination)                 : 137.87240
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 213.09360
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 312.57760
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 252.00318
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -29.59985
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458839.13360
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 6147.68

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ED3

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-12 00:00 UT   09 56 20.2   +60 35 30    15.872   16.564  133.2    2.5   185   29.5 
2026-02-13 00:00 UT   09 55 47.8   +60 36 46    15.881   16.570  132.9    2.5   184   29.5 
2026-02-13 09:19 UT   09 55 35.2   +60 37 14    15.885   16.572  132.8    2.5   183   29.5 
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   09 55 15.3   +60 37 58    15.891   16.575  132.6    2.5   182   29.5 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   09 54 42.9   +60 39 07    15.900   16.581  132.2    2.5   181   29.5 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   09 54 10.4   +60 40 12    15.910   16.586  131.9    2.5   179   29.5 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   09 53 37.9   +60 41 14    15.920   16.591  131.5    2.6   178   29.5 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   09 53 05.4   +60 42 12    15.930   16.597  131.1    2.6   176   29.5 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   09 52 33.0   +60 43 07    15.941   16.602  130.7    2.6   175   29.5 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   09 52 00.7   +60 43 58    15.951   16.608  130.3    2.6   174   29.5 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   09 51 28.4   +60 44 45    15.962   16.613  129.8    2.6   172   29.5 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   09 50 56.1   +60 45 29    15.973   16.618  129.4    2.6   171   29.5 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   09 50 24.0   +60 46 10    15.984   16.624  128.9    2.7   169   29.5 

    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.