C/2024 Y1 (Masek)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Nov 2024	14.1	0.820 AU	1.339 AU	18h05m	-51°28'	37.6°	47.2°	133°
Nearest approach	13 Jan 2025	15.6	1.186 AU	1.007 AU	01h46m	-56°40'	73.1°	52.5°	76°
Today	1 Feb 2026	27.6	5.509 AU	4.583 AU	08h02m	+35°34'	157.9°	3.9°	143°

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 14.6 + 5 log[∆] + 13.1 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/2024 Y1 (Masek) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9869110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8196640
    i (Inclination)                 : 64.84730
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 112.55160
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 238.05420
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 146.83102
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -50.18251
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460641.54470
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 495.56

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPC182884

    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
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   08 03 48.3   +35 30 15     4.566    5.497  159.0    3.7   146   27.6 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   08 02 56.8   +35 34 04     4.580    5.507  158.1    3.8   143   27.6 
2026-02-01 05:21 UT   08 02 45.4   +35 34 55     4.583    5.509  157.9    3.9   143   27.6 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   08 02 05.9   +35 37 47     4.594    5.516  157.2    4.0   141   27.6 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   08 01 15.4   +35 41 22     4.608    5.525  156.3    4.1   139   27.6 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   08 00 25.4   +35 44 51     4.623    5.535  155.3    4.3   137   27.7 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   07 59 36.0   +35 48 13     4.638    5.544  154.4    4.4   136   27.7 
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   07 58 47.2   +35 51 29     4.654    5.553  153.4    4.6   134   27.7 
2026-02-07 00:00 UT   07 57 59.0   +35 54 37     4.669    5.562  152.4    4.7   132   27.7 
2026-02-08 00:00 UT   07 57 11.4   +35 57 39     4.685    5.572  151.4    4.9   131   27.7 
2026-02-09 00:00 UT   07 56 24.5   +36 00 35     4.702    5.581  150.4    5.0   130   27.7 
2026-02-10 00:00 UT   07 55 38.3   +36 03 24     4.718    5.590  149.4    5.2   128   27.8 
2026-02-11 00:00 UT   07 54 52.8   +36 06 07     4.735    5.599  148.4    5.3   127   27.8 

    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.