A/2024 G8
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Apr 2024	19.4	1.582 AU	0.627 AU	11h17m	-17°10'	151.8°	17.4°	72°
Perihelion	15 Jun 2024	21.4	1.172 AU	1.562 AU	06h54m	-21°26'	48.6°	40.6°	156°
Today	2 Jun 2026	28.0	7.751 AU	8.216 AU	00h16m	+26°15'	59.5°	6.5°	259°

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=18.50; 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 G8 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9916850
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.1720500
    i (Inclination)                 : 97.45500
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 11.26300
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 249.14790
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 352.45266
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -67.91134
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460477.10090
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1673.50

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194189

    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
2026-06-01 00:00 UT   00 16 45.4   +26 09 01     8.223    7.739   58.3    6.4   259   28.0 
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   00 16 52.5   +26 13 53     8.218    7.747   59.1    6.5   259   28.0 
2026-06-02 09:38 UT   00 16 55.3   +26 15 50     8.216    7.751   59.5    6.5   259   28.0 
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   00 16 59.3   +26 18 45     8.213    7.755   60.0    6.5   258   28.0 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   00 17 05.5   +26 23 35     8.207    7.763   60.8    6.5   258   28.0 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   00 17 11.4   +26 28 25     8.202    7.771   61.6    6.6   258   28.0 
2026-06-06 00:00 UT   00 17 16.8   +26 33 14     8.196    7.779   62.4    6.6   257   28.0 
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   00 17 21.8   +26 38 01     8.190    7.787   63.3    6.7   257   28.0 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   00 17 26.3   +26 42 48     8.184    7.795   64.1    6.7   256   28.0 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   00 17 30.3   +26 47 34     8.178    7.803   64.9    6.8   256   28.0 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   00 17 33.9   +26 52 18     8.172    7.811   65.7    6.8   255   28.0 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   00 17 37.0   +26 57 01     8.166    7.819   66.6    6.8   255   28.0 
2026-06-12 00:00 UT   00 17 39.7   +27 01 43     8.160    7.826   67.4    6.9   255   28.0 

    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.