A/2020 H9
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Dec 2019	22.4	2.560 AU	3.422 AU	16h52m	-44°23'	24.6°	9.2°	216°
Nearest approach	22 Apr 2020	21.2	2.872 AU	1.887 AU	14h32m	-24°30'	165.7°	5.0°	327°
Today	20 Apr 2026	29.7	16.926 AU	16.864 AU	09h27m	+60°02'	91.8°	3.4°	117°

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)                : 0.9922550
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5597760
    i (Inclination)                 : 137.87130
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 213.06650
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 312.54220
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 252.01033
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -29.61901
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458838.91560
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 6008.57

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   09 28 10.4   +60 04 14    16.844   16.920   92.6    3.4   117   29.7 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   09 27 57.8   +60 02 23    16.862   16.926   91.9    3.4   117   29.7 
2026-04-20 02:12 UT   09 27 56.6   +60 02 12    16.864   16.926   91.8    3.4   117   29.7 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   09 27 45.6   +60 00 30    16.880   16.931   91.2    3.4   116   29.7 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   09 27 33.9   +59 58 35    16.898   16.936   90.4    3.4   115   29.7 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   09 27 22.7   +59 56 40    16.917   16.942   89.7    3.4   115   29.7 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   09 27 11.9   +59 54 43    16.935   16.947   89.0    3.4   114   29.7 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   09 27 01.6   +59 52 44    16.953   16.952   88.2    3.4   113   29.7 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   09 26 51.9   +59 50 45    16.971   16.958   87.5    3.4   113   29.7 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   09 26 42.5   +59 48 44    16.989   16.963   86.8    3.4   112   29.7 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   09 26 33.7   +59 46 43    17.007   16.968   86.1    3.4   111   29.7 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   09 26 25.3   +59 44 40    17.026   16.974   85.3    3.4   111   29.7 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   09 26 17.4   +59 42 36    17.044   16.979   84.6    3.4   110   29.7 

    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.