A/2024 D1
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	14 Mar 2026	20.0	7.859 AU	7.687 AU	06h26m	+71°26'	96.3°	7.2°	101°
Nearest approach	9 Nov 2027	19.1	6.694 AU	5.942 AU	01h20m	+56°36'	136.3°	5.9°	146°
Perihelion	3 Dec 2027	19.1	6.692 AU	6.035 AU	00h55m	+51°56'	128.4°	6.6°	104°

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=10.60; 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/2024 D1 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9996520
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.6916100
    i (Inclination)                 : 132.44790
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.65380
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 125.79810
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 222.75627
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 36.76192
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461743.09980

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E43

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   06 28 28.5   +71 34 24     7.672    7.864   97.5    7.2   103   20.0 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   06 27 16.7   +71 29 20     7.681    7.861   96.8    7.2   102   20.0 
2026-03-14 15:21 UT   06 26 32.1   +71 26 04     7.687    7.859   96.3    7.2   101   20.0 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   06 26 07.4   +71 24 13     7.690    7.857   96.0    7.2   101   20.0 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   06 25 00.4   +71 19 04     7.699    7.854   95.3    7.2   100   20.0 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   06 23 55.8   +71 13 53     7.709    7.851   94.6    7.3    99   20.0 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   06 22 53.6   +71 08 40     7.718    7.847   93.8    7.3    98   20.0 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   06 21 53.7   +71 03 25     7.727    7.844   93.1    7.3    97   20.0 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   06 20 56.0   +70 58 10     7.737    7.841   92.4    7.3    96   20.0 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   06 20 00.7   +70 52 53     7.746    7.837   91.6    7.3    95   20.0 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   06 19 07.6   +70 47 35     7.755    7.834   90.9    7.3    94   20.1 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   06 18 16.6   +70 42 16     7.765    7.831   90.1    7.3    93   20.1 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   06 17 27.9   +70 36 58     7.774    7.827   89.4    7.3    92   20.1 

    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.