97P/Metcalf-Brewington
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	18 Oct 2021	18.4	2.715 AU	1.731 AU	01h14m	-00°40'	168.7°	4.1°	23°
Perihelion	15 Feb 2022	19.0	2.573 AU	2.821 AU	02h15m	+00°23'	65.5°	20.4°	76°
Today	23 Apr 2024	26.0	5.200 AU	4.382 AU	11h37m	+01°17'	140.8°	7.0°	112°

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 97P/Metcalf-Brewington are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4602880
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5726050
            i (Inclination)                 : 17.94830
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 184.08030
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 230.10820
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 232.77627
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.67634
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459626.49780
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 10.41

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 22
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-GJ3

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.708
        

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 estimated based on previous apparitions. (8.50 + 5 log[∆] + 20.00 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
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   11 37 56.2   +01 14 56     4.374    5.198  141.4    6.9   112   26.0 
2024-04-23 15:13 UT   11 37 45.1   +01 17 19     4.382    5.200  140.8    7.0   112   26.0 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   11 37 38.8   +01 18 40     4.387    5.201  140.4    7.1   112   26.0 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   11 37 22.0   +01 22 19     4.400    5.205  139.3    7.2   112   26.0 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   11 37 05.8   +01 25 53     4.414    5.208  138.2    7.4   112   26.1 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   11 36 50.3   +01 29 23     4.428    5.211  137.2    7.5   112   26.1 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   11 36 35.4   +01 32 47     4.441    5.214  136.1    7.7   112   26.1 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   11 36 21.2   +01 36 07     4.456    5.218  135.1    7.8   112   26.1 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   11 36 07.7   +01 39 23     4.470    5.221  134.1    8.0   112   26.1 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   11 35 54.8   +01 42 33     4.484    5.224  133.0    8.1   113   26.1 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   11 35 42.6   +01 45 38     4.499    5.227  132.0    8.2   113   26.1 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   11 35 31.1   +01 48 39     4.514    5.231  130.9    8.4   113   26.1 

    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.