A/2025 S2
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach5 Nov 202517.21.844 AU0.878 AU 01h41m+04°31'161.0°10.1°52°
Perihelion2 Jan 202619.21.686 AU1.703 AU 22h34m+24°42'72.2°33.7°53°
Today19 Mar 202620.01.954 AU2.421 AU 22h25m+46°26'50.9°23.3°330°
A/2025 S2- 2026-03-19
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.)


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=15.50; 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/2025 S2 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9733250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6862490
    i (Inclination)                 : 96.64230
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 34.47340
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 31.59040
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 30.40456
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.35419
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461042.91600
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 502.60

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 19
    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
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   22 25 15.8   +45 41 25     2.418    1.941   50.4   23.3   332   20.0 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   22 25 11.0   +46 04 38     2.420    1.948   50.7   23.3   331   20.0 
2026-03-19 22:39 UT   22 25 05.6   +46 26 45     2.421    1.954   50.9   23.3   330   20.0 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   22 25 05.3   +46 28 05     2.421    1.954   51.0   23.3   330   20.0 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   22 24 58.7   +46 51 44     2.423    1.960   51.3   23.3   329   20.0 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   22 24 51.1   +47 15 36     2.425    1.967   51.6   23.4   328   20.0 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   22 24 42.4   +47 39 41     2.426    1.973   51.9   23.4   327   20.0 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   22 24 32.7   +48 03 60     2.427    1.980   52.2   23.4   325   20.0 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   22 24 21.9   +48 28 31     2.428    1.986   52.5   23.5   324   20.0 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   22 24 09.8   +48 53 15     2.429    1.993   52.9   23.5   323   20.0 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   22 23 56.4   +49 18 11     2.430    2.000   53.2   23.6   322   20.0 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   22 23 41.7   +49 43 21     2.431    2.006   53.6   23.6   321   20.1 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   22 23 25.6   +50 08 43     2.431    2.013   54.0   23.6   320   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.