P/2024 S2 (Rankin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Sep 2024	19.4	2.048 AU	1.840 AU	05h45m	+29°43'	86.9°	29.3°	269°
Nearest approach	15 Dec 2024	19.0	2.208 AU	1.266 AU	06h57m	+36°00'	157.6°	9.8°	241°
Today	5 Feb 2025	19.8	2.418 AU	1.596 AU	06h27m	+34°26'	137.7°	15.9°	105°

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 P/2024 S2 (Rankin) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.5938420
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0480110
            i (Inclination)                 : 7.52480
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.35100
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 49.18800
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 57.29372
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 5.68819
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460569.88050
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 11.32

            Epoch                           : 2025 Feb 02
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-A40

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.602
        

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 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. (15.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-02-05 00:00 UT   06 27 53.7   +34 30 33     1.586    2.414  138.5   15.7   106   19.8 
2025-02-05 20:09 UT   06 27 55.2   +34 26 36     1.596    2.418  137.7   15.9   105   19.8 
2025-02-06 00:00 UT   06 27 55.7   +34 25 51     1.598    2.419  137.6   16.0   105   19.9 
2025-02-07 00:00 UT   06 27 59.5   +34 21 06     1.610    2.423  136.6   16.2   105   19.9 
2025-02-08 00:00 UT   06 28 05.2   +34 16 19     1.622    2.428  135.7   16.5   104   19.9 
2025-02-09 00:00 UT   06 28 12.8   +34 11 31     1.635    2.432  134.7   16.7   104   19.9 
2025-02-10 00:00 UT   06 28 22.2   +34 06 41     1.648    2.437  133.8   17.0   103   20.0 
2025-02-11 00:00 UT   06 28 33.5   +34 01 49     1.660    2.442  132.9   17.2   103   20.0 
2025-02-12 00:00 UT   06 28 46.5   +33 56 56     1.673    2.446  132.0   17.5   103   20.0 
2025-02-13 00:00 UT   06 29 01.4   +33 52 02     1.687    2.451  131.1   17.7   102   20.0 
2025-02-14 00:00 UT   06 29 17.9   +33 47 07     1.700    2.456  130.2   17.9   102   20.1 
2025-02-15 00:00 UT   06 29 36.3   +33 42 11     1.714    2.461  129.3   18.1   102   20.1 

    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.