C/2020 R6 (Rankin) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 15 Apr 2019 | 18.7 | 3.430 AU | 3.008 AU | 08h50m | -66°59' | 106.5° | 16.3° | 76° |
Perihelion | 7 Sep 2019 | 18.5 | 3.137 AU | 3.209 AU | 08h16m | -64°13' | 76.9° | 18.2° | 223° |
Today | 25 Apr 2024 | 27.9 | 13.105 AU | 13.911 AU | 00h11m | +35°56' | 35.5° | 2.6° | 301° |
C/2020 R6 (Rankin)- 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 R6 (Rankin) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9895500
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.1371940
i (Inclination) : 82.83290
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 12.19120
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 271.99970
L (Longitude of perihelion) : -62.17433
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -82.56056
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458734.13200
P (Orbital period in years) : 5201.61
Epoch : 2024 Apr 25
Reference : MPEC 2021-Y10
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. (11.00 + 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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT 00 11 31.0 +35 53 34 13.910 13.100 35.1 2.5 303 27.9
2024-04-25 22:49 UT 00 11 45.1 +35 56 38 13.911 13.105 35.5 2.6 301 27.9
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 00 11 45.8 +35 56 48 13.911 13.106 35.5 2.6 301 27.9
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 00 12 00.5 +36 00 03 13.913 13.112 35.9 2.6 300 27.9
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 00 12 15.0 +36 03 19 13.914 13.117 36.4 2.6 299 27.9
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 00 12 29.3 +36 06 36 13.915 13.123 36.8 2.6 297 27.9
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 00 12 43.5 +36 09 55 13.916 13.129 37.3 2.7 296 27.9
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 00 12 57.5 +36 13 14 13.916 13.135 37.7 2.7 295 27.9
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 00 13 11.3 +36 16 34 13.917 13.140 38.2 2.7 294 27.9
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 00 13 24.9 +36 19 56 13.917 13.146 38.7 2.8 292 27.9
2024-05-04 00:00 UT 00 13 38.4 +36 23 18 13.917 13.152 39.2 2.8 291 27.9
2024-05-05 00:00 UT 00 13 51.7 +36 26 41 13.917 13.158 39.8 2.8 290 27.9
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.