C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Jan 2015	4.0	1.334 AU	0.474 AU	04h16m	-05°02'	129.0°	34.9°	56°
Perihelion	30 Jan 2015	4.9	1.288 AU	0.746 AU	02h22m	+36°49'	95.2°	49.6°	72°
Today	16 Mar 2026	22.0	26.590 AU	26.727 AU	18h19m	-10°53'	81.0°	2.1°	270°

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 4.8 + 5 log[∆] + 7.1 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 Q2 (Lovejoy) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9968130
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2880810
    i (Inclination)                 : 80.79020
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 94.86820
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 12.32740
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 96.87140
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.16604
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457053.09820
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8125.34

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 15
    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   18 19 43.6   -10 54 09    26.747   26.582   79.3    2.1   270   22.0 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   18 19 45.3   -10 53 48    26.735   26.587   80.3    2.1   270   22.0 
2026-03-16 16:12 UT   18 19 46.4   -10 53 34    26.727   26.590   81.0    2.1   270   22.0 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   18 19 46.9   -10 53 27    26.723   26.591   81.3    2.1   270   22.0 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   18 19 48.3   -10 53 05    26.711   26.596   82.2    2.1   270   22.0 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   18 19 49.6   -10 52 44    26.699   26.600   83.2    2.1   269   22.0 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   18 19 50.7   -10 52 23    26.687   26.605   84.2    2.1   269   22.0 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   18 19 51.7   -10 52 01    26.674   26.609   85.1    2.1   269   22.0 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   18 19 52.5   -10 51 40    26.662   26.614   86.1    2.1   269   22.0 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   18 19 53.1   -10 51 19    26.650   26.618   87.1    2.1   269   22.0 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   18 19 53.6   -10 50 58    26.638   26.623   88.0    2.1   268   22.0 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   18 19 53.9   -10 50 36    26.625   26.627   89.0    2.1   268   22.0 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   18 19 54.1   -10 50 15    26.613   26.632   90.0    2.1   268   22.0 

    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.