390P/Gibbs
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Aug 2019	18.0	2.834 AU	1.954 AU	19h05m	-07°02'	143.6°	12.2°	105°
Perihelion	22 Mar 2020	16.4	1.704 AU	2.640 AU	01h11m	-02°35'	16.0°	9.3°	102°
Today	26 Nov 2024	26.5	9.142 AU	9.712 AU	13h03m	+04°30'	52.3°	4.9°	301°

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 390P/Gibbs are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7069730
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7043850
            i (Inclination)                 : 18.52990
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 152.22050
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 232.52400
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 203.26218
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.60823
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458931.25090
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 14.03

            Epoch                           : 2024 Nov 25
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-EF7

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.313
        

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 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. (12.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-11-26 00:00 UT   13 03 23.5   +04 31 06     9.718    9.141   51.8    4.9   301   26.5 
2024-11-26 12:19 UT   13 03 33.7   +04 30 41     9.712    9.142   52.3    4.9   301   26.5 
2024-11-27 00:00 UT   13 03 43.2   +04 30 17     9.707    9.143   52.7    4.9   301   26.5 
2024-11-28 00:00 UT   13 04 02.7   +04 29 31     9.695    9.144   53.6    5.0   301   26.5 
2024-11-29 00:00 UT   13 04 21.9   +04 28 48     9.683    9.146   54.5    5.0   300   26.5 
2024-11-30 00:00 UT   13 04 40.8   +04 28 07     9.671    9.148   55.4    5.1   300   26.5 
2024-12-01 00:00 UT   13 04 59.4   +04 27 28     9.659    9.150   56.4    5.1   300   26.5 
2024-12-02 00:00 UT   13 05 17.8   +04 26 53     9.647    9.152   57.3    5.2   300   26.5 
2024-12-03 00:00 UT   13 05 36.0   +04 26 20     9.635    9.154   58.2    5.3   299   26.5 
2024-12-04 00:00 UT   13 05 53.8   +04 25 49     9.622    9.156   59.1    5.3   299   26.5 
2024-12-05 00:00 UT   13 06 11.4   +04 25 21     9.610    9.158   60.0    5.4   299   26.5 
2024-12-06 00:00 UT   13 06 28.6   +04 24 56     9.597    9.159   61.0    5.4   299   26.5 

    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.