C/2017 E2 (Tsuchinshan)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	22 Oct 2015	18.3	3.133 AU	2.314 AU	23h29m	+38°23'	139.0°	12.0°	123°
Perihelion	11 May 2016	17.3	2.350 AU	2.675 AU	01h20m	+76°52'	60.6°	22.0°	328°
Today	12 Nov 2025	31.0	19.894 AU	20.401 AU	11h30m	-61°17'	58.0°	2.4°	247°

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. (11.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2017 E2 (Tsuchinshan) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8908419
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3502008
    i (Inclination)                 : 79.07641
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 11.61301
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 89.36233
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 98.25171
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 79.05804
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457520.07825
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 99.90

    Epoch                           : 2020 Dec 17
    Reference                       : MPEC 2020-SI8

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   11 30 03.3   -61 14 04    20.400   19.890   57.7    2.4   245   31.0 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   11 30 14.0   -61 16 52    20.401   19.893   57.9    2.4   246   31.0 
2025-11-12 08:32 UT   11 30 17.8   -61 17 51    20.401   19.894   58.0    2.4   247   31.0 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   11 30 24.5   -61 19 40    20.401   19.897   58.1    2.4   247   31.0 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   11 30 34.6   -61 22 30    20.401   19.900   58.3    2.4   248   31.0 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   11 30 44.4   -61 25 21    20.401   19.904   58.6    2.4   250   31.0 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   11 30 54.0   -61 28 12    20.401   19.907   58.8    2.4   251   31.0 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   11 31 03.2   -61 31 05    20.401   19.911   59.0    2.4   252   31.0 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   11 31 12.1   -61 33 58    20.401   19.914   59.3    2.4   253   31.0 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   11 31 20.6   -61 36 52    20.400   19.918   59.6    2.5   254   31.0 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   11 31 28.9   -61 39 46    20.399   19.922   59.8    2.5   255   31.0 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   11 31 36.8   -61 42 42    20.399   19.925   60.1    2.5   256   31.0 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   11 31 44.3   -61 45 38    20.398   19.929   60.4    2.5   257   31.0 

    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.