C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	6 Sep 2014	9.2	1.574 AU	0.903 AU	21h36m	-74°42'	110.8°	36.8°	22°
Perihelion	27 Oct 2014	10.3	1.392 AU	1.764 AU	17h40m	-21°47'	51.9°	34.2°	91°
Today	7 Jul 2026	24.1	27.646 AU	28.477 AU	09h34m	+32°54'	34.5°	1.2°	82°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (8.2 + 5 log[∆] + 6.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0001110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3920960
    i (Inclination)                 : 128.68590
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 301.18460
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 2.54800
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 299.59133
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.98867
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456957.67430

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 06
    Reference                       : MPC194130

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-07-06 00:00 UT   09 34 42.9   +32 56 17    28.458   27.639   35.7    1.2    84   24.1 
2026-07-07 00:00 UT   09 34 49.7   +32 55 20    28.471   27.644   34.9    1.2    83   24.1 
2026-07-07 12:05 UT   09 34 53.2   +32 54 52    28.477   27.646   34.5    1.2    82   24.1 
2026-07-08 00:00 UT   09 34 56.7   +32 54 24    28.484   27.648   34.1    1.2    82   24.1 
2026-07-09 00:00 UT   09 35 03.8   +32 53 27    28.496   27.653   33.3    1.2    81   24.1 
2026-07-10 00:00 UT   09 35 10.9   +32 52 31    28.508   27.657   32.5    1.1    80   24.1 
2026-07-11 00:00 UT   09 35 18.1   +32 51 35    28.520   27.662   31.8    1.1    79   24.1 
2026-07-12 00:00 UT   09 35 25.4   +32 50 39    28.532   27.666   31.0    1.1    78   24.1 
2026-07-13 00:00 UT   09 35 32.7   +32 49 43    28.543   27.671   30.3    1.1    77   24.1 
2026-07-14 00:00 UT   09 35 40.2   +32 48 48    28.555   27.675   29.5    1.0    76   24.1 
2026-07-15 00:00 UT   09 35 47.7   +32 47 53    28.566   27.680   28.8    1.0    75   24.1 
2026-07-16 00:00 UT   09 35 55.2   +32 46 58    28.576   27.684   28.1    1.0    74   24.1 
2026-07-17 00:00 UT   09 36 02.9   +32 46 03    28.587   27.689   27.4    1.0    72   24.1 

    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.