C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 21 Feb 2014 | 8.2 | 1.610 AU | 2.037 AU | 18h58m | +01°26' | 51.0° | 28.5° | 285° |
Nearest approach | 27 Jun 2014 | 9.0 | 2.296 AU | 1.554 AU | 22h30m | -30°30' | 125.3° | 21.2° | 262° |
Today | 26 Apr 2025 | 24.7 | 26.107 AU | 26.850 AU | 03h31m | -23°32' | 41.6° | 1.5° | 151° |
C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)- 2025-04-26
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9904900
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.6099410
i (Inclination) : 44.36210
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 112.87210
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 132.46610
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 74.87720
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 31.04939
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2456710.02210
P (Orbital period in years) : 2202.64
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC108592
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 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. (4.80 + 5 log[∆] + 9.00 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
2025-04-26 00:00 UT 03 31 33.7 -23 32 26 26.850 26.107 41.6 1.5 151 24.7
2025-04-26 00:19 UT 03 31 33.8 -23 32 26 26.850 26.107 41.6 1.5 151 24.7
2025-04-27 00:00 UT 03 31 43.0 -23 31 30 26.856 26.112 41.5 1.5 152 24.7
2025-04-28 00:00 UT 03 31 52.4 -23 30 35 26.862 26.116 41.4 1.5 153 24.7
2025-04-29 00:00 UT 03 32 01.7 -23 29 42 26.868 26.120 41.3 1.5 155 24.7
2025-04-30 00:00 UT 03 32 11.2 -23 28 49 26.874 26.125 41.2 1.5 156 24.7
2025-05-01 00:00 UT 03 32 20.6 -23 27 58 26.879 26.129 41.1 1.5 158 24.7
2025-05-02 00:00 UT 03 32 30.1 -23 27 09 26.884 26.134 41.1 1.5 159 24.7
2025-05-03 00:00 UT 03 32 39.7 -23 26 20 26.889 26.138 41.1 1.5 161 24.7
2025-05-04 00:00 UT 03 32 49.2 -23 25 34 26.893 26.142 41.1 1.5 162 24.7
2025-05-05 00:00 UT 03 32 58.8 -23 24 48 26.898 26.147 41.1 1.5 163 24.7
2025-05-06 00:00 UT 03 33 08.4 -23 24 04 26.902 26.151 41.1 1.5 165 24.7
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.