C/2020 V2 (ZTF)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion8 May 202310.42.228 AU3.218 AU02h39m+24°59'9.2°4.2°329°
Nearest approach17 Sep 20239.92.684 AU1.855 AU02h11m-23°05'137.5°14.7°294°
Today29 Mar 202413.74.143 AU4.799 AU00h04m-40°16'44.2°9.7°190°
C/2020 V2 (ZTF)- 2024-03-29
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 V2 (ZTF) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0008090
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2276680
            i (Inclination)                 : 131.61190
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 212.37170
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 162.39580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 224.27058
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.06887
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460072.96240

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 28
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-F34

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (4.90 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.69 + 5 log[∆] + 9.03 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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   00 03 56.3   -40 14 54     4.799    4.140   44.0    9.7   190   13.7 
2024-03-29 08:23 UT   00 04 10.5   -40 16 06     4.799    4.143   44.2    9.7   190   13.7 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   00 04 37.0   -40 18 23     4.799    4.148   44.6    9.7   191   13.7 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   00 05 17.7   -40 21 60     4.800    4.156   45.1    9.8   192   13.7 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   00 05 58.3   -40 25 44     4.800    4.164   45.7    9.9   193   13.7 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   00 06 38.8   -40 29 37     4.800    4.172   46.3   10.0   194   13.7 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   00 07 19.2   -40 33 37     4.800    4.180   46.8   10.0   194   13.7 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   00 07 59.5   -40 37 45     4.800    4.188   47.4   10.1   195   13.7 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   00 08 39.6   -40 42 02     4.799    4.197   48.0   10.2   196   13.7 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   00 09 19.7   -40 46 26     4.798    4.205   48.6   10.3   197   13.7 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   00 09 59.6   -40 50 59     4.797    4.213   49.2   10.4   198   13.7 
2024-04-08 00:00 UT   00 10 39.4   -40 55 40     4.796    4.221   49.9   10.4   199   13.7 


    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.