38P/Stephan-Oterma
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	13 Nov 2018	6.8	1.580 AU	0.820 AU	07h25m	+21°44'	121.4°	32.3°	278°
Nearest approach	15 Dec 2018	6.9	1.631 AU	0.731 AU	08h11m	+34°49'	143.5°	21.1°	263°
Today	5 Jul 2025	41.8	14.520 AU	13.853 AU	15h31m	-11°38'	129.4°	3.1°	110°

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 38P/Stephan-Oterma are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8597700
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5797020
            i (Inclination)                 : 18.41420
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 77.86130
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.59330
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 77.47542
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.12847
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458436.37550
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 37.81

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 04
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-YC7

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)
        

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 (3.50 + 5 log[∆] + 30.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 1.26 + 5 log[∆] + 30.00 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
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   15 31 49.6   -11 38 23    13.840   14.517  130.2    3.1   110   41.8 
2025-07-05 19:43 UT   15 31 42.1   -11 38 24    13.853   14.520  129.4    3.1   110   41.8 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   15 31 40.4   -11 38 24    13.856   14.520  129.2    3.1   110   41.8 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   15 31 31.5   -11 38 25    13.872   14.523  128.3    3.2   110   41.8 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   15 31 22.8   -11 38 28    13.888   14.527  127.3    3.2   110   41.8 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   15 31 14.3   -11 38 32    13.904   14.530  126.3    3.2   109   41.8 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   15 31 06.1   -11 38 37    13.921   14.533  125.3    3.3   109   41.8 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   15 30 58.1   -11 38 43    13.938   14.536  124.4    3.3   109   41.9 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   15 30 50.3   -11 38 51    13.955   14.540  123.4    3.3   109   41.9 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   15 30 42.8   -11 38 59    13.972   14.543  122.4    3.4   109   41.9 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   15 30 35.5   -11 39 08    13.989   14.546  121.5    3.4   108   41.9 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   15 30 28.5   -11 39 19    14.007   14.549  120.5    3.5   108   41.9 

    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.