C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 6 Jan 2015 | 3.9 | 1.330 AU | 0.444 AU | 04h26m | -01°48' | 134.0° | 32.1° | 56° |
Perihelion | 27 Jan 2015 | 4.8 | 1.290 AU | 0.697 AU | 02h24m | +38°38' | 98.8° | 48.9° | 73° |
Today | 19 Apr 2025 | 21.7 | 25.079 AU | 24.651 AU | 18h19m | -09°49' | 114.1° | 2.1° | 262° |
C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)- 2025-04-19
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/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9967260
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.2904520
i (Inclination) : 80.20620
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 95.03930
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 12.31650
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 97.16627
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 12.13425
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2457050.26200
P (Orbital period in years) : 7825.19
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC115880
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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (2.70 + 5 log[∆] + 25.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.77 + 5 log[∆] + 7.10 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
2025-04-19 00:00 UT 18 19 09.9 -09 49 50 24.660 25.075 113.3 2.1 262 21.7
2025-04-19 21:46 UT 18 19 06.3 -09 49 32 24.651 25.079 114.1 2.1 262 21.7
2025-04-20 00:00 UT 18 19 05.9 -09 49 30 24.650 25.080 114.2 2.1 262 21.7
2025-04-21 00:00 UT 18 19 01.9 -09 49 11 24.639 25.084 115.2 2.1 262 21.7
2025-04-22 00:00 UT 18 18 57.7 -09 48 52 24.629 25.089 116.2 2.1 261 21.7
2025-04-23 00:00 UT 18 18 53.3 -09 48 34 24.619 25.094 117.1 2.0 261 21.7
2025-04-24 00:00 UT 18 18 48.8 -09 48 15 24.609 25.098 118.1 2.0 261 21.7
2025-04-25 00:00 UT 18 18 44.1 -09 47 57 24.599 25.103 119.0 2.0 260 21.7
2025-04-26 00:00 UT 18 18 39.3 -09 47 40 24.589 25.107 120.0 2.0 260 21.7
2025-04-27 00:00 UT 18 18 34.3 -09 47 23 24.579 25.112 120.9 2.0 260 21.7
2025-04-28 00:00 UT 18 18 29.2 -09 47 06 24.570 25.117 121.9 2.0 259 21.7
2025-04-29 00:00 UT 18 18 24.0 -09 46 49 24.560 25.121 122.9 1.9 259 21.7
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.