261P/Larson
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today2 Dec 202423.93.310 AU4.294 AU16h31m-25°00'3.1°0.9°192°
Nearest approach6 Aug 202516.62.292 AU1.302 AU19h55m-18°12'163.1°7.4°87°
Perihelion27 Dec 202516.32.014 AU2.349 AU22h15m-05°41'58.3°24.6°66°
261P/Larson- 2024-12-02
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
-1 month
-1 week
-1 day
Now
+1 day
+1 week
+1 month

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 261P/Larson are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4229220
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0140030
            i (Inclination)                 : 6.07300
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 291.05260
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.36400
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 358.30183
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 5.60363
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461036.84750
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 6.52

            Epoch                           : 2024 Nov 30
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-J28

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.967
        

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 (14.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.48 + 5 log[∆] + 29.33 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.