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	21 Apr 2026	29.3	28.336 AU	27.812 AU	17h57m	-10°28'	120.5°	1.8°	263°

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
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   17 57 20.9   -10 28 50    27.823   28.331  119.4    1.8   263   29.3 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   17 57 16.2   -10 28 27    27.813   28.335  120.4    1.8   263   29.3 
2026-04-21 02:29 UT   17 57 15.8   -10 28 25    27.812   28.336  120.5    1.8   263   29.3 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   17 57 11.4   -10 28 04    27.803   28.340  121.3    1.7   262   29.3 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   17 57 06.5   -10 27 41    27.794   28.344  122.3    1.7   262   29.3 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   17 57 01.4   -10 27 19    27.784   28.348  123.2    1.7   262   29.3 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   17 56 56.3   -10 26 57    27.775   28.353  124.2    1.7   261   29.3 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   17 56 50.9   -10 26 35    27.765   28.357  125.1    1.7   261   29.3 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   17 56 45.5   -10 26 13    27.756   28.362  126.1    1.6   261   29.3 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   17 56 40.0   -10 25 52    27.748   28.366  127.1    1.6   260   29.3 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   17 56 34.3   -10 25 31    27.739   28.371  128.0    1.6   260   29.3 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   17 56 28.5   -10 25 10    27.730   28.375  129.0    1.6   260   29.3 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   17 56 22.6   -10 24 49    27.722   28.380  129.9    1.6   259   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.