C/2014 E2 (Jacques)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Jun 2014	6.4	0.679 AU	1.648 AU	05h49m	+20°49'	11.2°	16.9°	256°
Nearest approach	28 Aug 2014	7.1	1.320 AU	0.582 AU	22h49m	+61°03'	109.0°	46.4°	186°
Today	16 Mar 2026	29.3	28.178 AU	28.223 AU	17h58m	-10°43'	86.4°	2.0°	271°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.1 + 5 log[∆] + 10.3 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/2014 E2 (Jacques) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9988040
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6794840
    i (Inclination)                 : 156.51100
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.23440
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 344.05920
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 70.91373
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -6.28452
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456838.87830
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 13541.67

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   17 58 35.6   -10 44 06    28.246   28.170   84.5    2.0   271   29.3 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   17 58 36.1   -10 43 40    28.234   28.174   85.5    2.0   271   29.3 
2026-03-16 20:58 UT   17 58 36.4   -10 43 17    28.223   28.178   86.4    2.0   271   29.3 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   17 58 36.4   -10 43 14    28.222   28.179   86.5    2.0   271   29.3 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   17 58 36.6   -10 42 48    28.209   28.183   87.4    2.0   271   29.3 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   17 58 36.6   -10 42 22    28.197   28.188   88.4    2.0   270   29.3 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   17 58 36.5   -10 41 56    28.185   28.192   89.4    2.0   270   29.3 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   17 58 36.3   -10 41 30    28.172   28.197   90.4    2.0   270   29.3 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   17 58 35.9   -10 41 04    28.160   28.201   91.3    2.0   270   29.3 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   17 58 35.3   -10 40 37    28.147   28.206   92.3    2.0   270   29.3 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   17 58 34.6   -10 40 11    28.135   28.210   93.3    2.0   269   29.3 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   17 58 33.8   -10 39 45    28.123   28.215   94.2    2.0   269   29.3 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   17 58 32.8   -10 39 19    28.110   28.219   95.2    2.0   269   29.3 

    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.