C/2024 G1 (Wierzchos)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Oct 2024	19.3	3.930 AU	4.609 AU	15h07m	+26°20'	42.3°	9.8°	32°
Nearest approach	18 Apr 2025	18.8	4.215 AU	3.303 AU	14h44m	+13°07'	151.9°	6.4°	212°
Today	21 Sep 2026	22.8	6.844 AU	7.630 AU	12h39m	-33°48'	36.0°	4.9°	160°

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 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. (10.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

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 C/2024 G1 (Wierzchos) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9676520
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9302280
    i (Inclination)                 : 95.37420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 30.60050
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 128.22020
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 37.38307
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 51.46110
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460604.50790
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1339.23

    Epoch                           : 2026 Sep 21
    Reference                       : MPC194189

    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
2026-09-20 00:00 UT   12 39 06.1   -33 39 27     7.608    6.833   37.0    5.1   158   22.8 
2026-09-21 00:00 UT   12 39 31.3   -33 44 01     7.620    6.838   36.5    5.0   159   22.8 
2026-09-21 21:24 UT   12 39 53.9   -33 48 08     7.630    6.844   36.0    4.9   160   22.8 
2026-09-22 00:00 UT   12 39 56.6   -33 48 39     7.632    6.844   35.9    4.9   161   22.8 
2026-09-23 00:00 UT   12 40 22.0   -33 53 19     7.643    6.850   35.4    4.9   162   22.8 
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   12 40 47.5   -33 58 03     7.655    6.856   34.9    4.8   163   22.8 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   12 41 13.1   -34 02 50     7.666    6.862   34.4    4.7   164   22.8 
2026-09-26 00:00 UT   12 41 38.7   -34 07 40     7.677    6.868   34.0    4.7   165   22.8 
2026-09-27 00:00 UT   12 42 04.4   -34 12 33     7.687    6.874   33.5    4.6   167   22.8 
2026-09-28 00:00 UT   12 42 30.1   -34 17 29     7.698    6.880   33.1    4.6   168   22.8 
2026-09-29 00:00 UT   12 42 55.9   -34 22 28     7.708    6.886   32.6    4.5   169   22.8 
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   12 43 21.7   -34 27 30     7.718    6.892   32.2    4.4   171   22.8 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   12 43 47.6   -34 32 35     7.728    6.898   31.8    4.4   172   22.8 

    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.