A/2024 U2
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Nov 2025	20.9	8.191 AU	7.279 AU	02h02m	+38°49'	155.3°	2.9°	160°
Perihelion	15 Jan 2026	21.3	8.179 AU	8.012 AU	01h16m	+36°15'	96.3°	6.9°	68°
Today	2 May 2026	21.4	8.204 AU	9.082 AU	01h31m	+39°07'	27.9°	3.3°	323°

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=11.70; 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 U2 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0033340
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.1789990
    i (Inclination)                 : 120.67200
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.07530
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 29.84700
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 39.76023
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 25.34452
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461056.12880

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 02
    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
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   01 30 49.2   +38 58 59     9.084    8.204   27.5    3.3   327   21.4 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   01 31 04.6   +39 03 25     9.083    8.204   27.7    3.3   325   21.4 
2026-05-02 20:09 UT   01 31 17.5   +39 07 10     9.082    8.204   27.9    3.3   323   21.4 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   01 31 19.9   +39 07 53     9.082    8.205   27.9    3.3   323   21.4 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   01 31 35.1   +39 12 23     9.080    8.205   28.1    3.3   321   21.4 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   01 31 50.2   +39 16 56     9.079    8.205   28.4    3.3   320   21.4 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   01 32 05.2   +39 21 31     9.077    8.206   28.7    3.4   318   21.4 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   01 32 20.0   +39 26 08     9.075    8.206   29.0    3.4   316   21.4 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   01 32 34.6   +39 30 48     9.072    8.207   29.3    3.4   314   21.4 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   01 32 49.1   +39 35 30     9.070    8.207   29.6    3.5   313   21.4 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   01 33 03.4   +39 40 14     9.067    8.208   30.0    3.5   311   21.4 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   01 33 17.6   +39 45 01     9.064    8.208   30.4    3.6   309   21.4 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   01 33 31.6   +39 49 50     9.060    8.209   30.8    3.6   308   21.4 

    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.