73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	18 Aug 2025	24.6	5.150 AU	5.810 AU	06h46m	+26°31'	45.4°	8.0°	278°
Perihelion	15 Dec 2027	10.5	0.873 AU	1.855 AU	17h37m	-24°57'	2.5°	2.8°	132°
Nearest approach	17 Dec 2027	10.5	0.874 AU	1.855 AU	17h49m	-25°11'	3.1°	3.4°	127°

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 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7127130
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8730610
            i (Inclination)                 : 6.72650
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.50440
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 210.80290
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 87.13351
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.43871
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461755.11530
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 5.30

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 18
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-RF3

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.777
        

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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 15.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.07 + 5 log[∆] + 15.00 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
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   06 46 15.6   +26 31 27     5.820    5.151   44.7    7.9   278   24.6 
2025-08-18 20:14 UT   06 46 51.4   +26 31 21     5.810    5.150   45.4    8.0   278   24.6 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   06 46 58.1   +26 31 20     5.808    5.150   45.5    8.1   278   24.6 
2025-08-20 00:00 UT   06 47 40.2   +26 31 13     5.795    5.149   46.3    8.2   278   24.6 
2025-08-21 00:00 UT   06 48 22.0   +26 31 06     5.782    5.148   47.1    8.3   278   24.6 
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   06 49 03.4   +26 30 60     5.769    5.147   47.9    8.4   278   24.5 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   06 49 44.4   +26 30 53     5.756    5.146   48.7    8.5   278   24.5 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   06 50 25.1   +26 30 47     5.743    5.145   49.6    8.6   278   24.5 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   06 51 05.3   +26 30 42     5.729    5.144   50.4    8.7   278   24.5 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   06 51 45.2   +26 30 37     5.716    5.143   51.2    8.8   278   24.5 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   06 52 24.6   +26 30 32     5.702    5.142   52.0    8.9   278   24.5 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   06 53 03.6   +26 30 27     5.688    5.141   52.8    9.0   278   24.5 

    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.