A/2024 D1
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today3 Jul 202620.07.509 AU8.225 AU 06h35m+65°34'42.7°5.3°355°
Nearest approach9 Nov 202719.16.693 AU5.941 AU 01h20m+56°35'136.3°5.9°146°
Perihelion3 Dec 202719.16.691 AU6.035 AU 00h55m+51°55'128.3°6.6°103°
A/2024 D1- 2026-07-03
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=10.60; G=.15).



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 A/2024 D1 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9998930
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.6908120
    i (Inclination)                 : 132.44800
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.65190
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 125.80960
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 222.74233
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 36.75566
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461743.17790

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 03
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-L50

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-07-02 00:00 UT   06 34 55.5   +65 34 02     8.232    7.514   42.5    5.2   357   20.0 
2026-07-03 00:00 UT   06 35 30.3   +65 34 18     8.228    7.511   42.6    5.3   356   20.0 
2026-07-03 18:43 UT   06 35 57.4   +65 34 33     8.225    7.509   42.7    5.3   355   20.0 
2026-07-04 00:00 UT   06 36 05.0   +65 34 38     8.224    7.508   42.7    5.3   355   20.0 
2026-07-05 00:00 UT   06 36 39.8   +65 35 03     8.219    7.506   42.9    5.3   354   20.0 
2026-07-06 00:00 UT   06 37 14.5   +65 35 32     8.214    7.503   43.0    5.3   353   20.0 
2026-07-07 00:00 UT   06 37 49.2   +65 36 05     8.209    7.500   43.2    5.3   351   20.0 
2026-07-08 00:00 UT   06 38 23.8   +65 36 43     8.204    7.497   43.3    5.3   350   20.0 
2026-07-09 00:00 UT   06 38 58.4   +65 37 25     8.198    7.494   43.5    5.4   349   20.0 
2026-07-10 00:00 UT   06 39 33.0   +65 38 11     8.193    7.491   43.7    5.4   348   20.0 
2026-07-11 00:00 UT   06 40 07.4   +65 39 02     8.187    7.488   43.9    5.4   347   20.0 
2026-07-12 00:00 UT   06 40 41.8   +65 39 58     8.181    7.485   44.2    5.4   346   20.0 
2026-07-13 00:00 UT   06 41 16.1   +65 40 58     8.175    7.482   44.4    5.5   345   20.0 



    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.