C/2017 E4 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Mar 2017	9.5	0.736 AU	0.652 AU	21h15m	+07°05'	47.5°	91.7°	273°
Perihelion	19 Apr 2017	9.0	0.506 AU	1.108 AU	00h58m	+35°50'	27.2°	65.0°	332°
Today	12 Mar 2026	32.4	23.762 AU	23.967 AU	04h24m	-49°21'	76.9°	2.3°	101°

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 11.7 + 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 E4 (Lovejoy) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0010620
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.5057960
    i (Inclination)                 : 88.00900
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 222.89720
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 87.34510
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 259.73946
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 86.68191
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457863.13300

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   04 24 35.2   -49 25 57    23.948   23.753   77.5    2.3    99   32.4 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   04 24 38.8   -49 23 43    23.958   23.758   77.2    2.3   100   32.4 
2026-03-12 21:58 UT   04 24 42.2   -49 21 41    23.967   23.762   76.9    2.3   101   32.4 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   04 24 42.6   -49 21 30    23.968   23.763   76.9    2.3   101   32.4 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   04 24 46.6   -49 19 17    23.978   23.768   76.6    2.3   102   32.4 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   04 24 50.8   -49 17 05    23.987   23.773   76.3    2.3   103   32.4 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   04 24 55.4   -49 14 54    23.997   23.778   76.1    2.3   104   32.4 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   04 25 00.1   -49 12 43    24.007   23.783   75.8    2.3   104   32.4 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   04 25 05.1   -49 10 33    24.016   23.788   75.5    2.3   105   32.4 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   04 25 10.3   -49 08 23    24.026   23.793   75.3    2.3   106   32.4 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   04 25 15.8   -49 06 15    24.035   23.798   75.0    2.3   107   32.4 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   04 25 21.5   -49 04 07    24.045   23.803   74.8    2.3   108   32.4 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   04 25 27.4   -49 01 60    24.054   23.808   74.5    2.3   109   32.4 

    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.