75D/Kohoutek
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	25 May 2025	23.2	5.026 AU	4.303 AU	19h37m	-19°45'	131.0°	8.7°	259°
Perihelion	2 Nov 2027	13.8	1.770 AU	1.291 AU	08h03m	+21°03'	100.8°	33.4°	282°
Nearest approach	12 Jan 2028	13.4	1.882 AU	0.925 AU	08h39m	+12°06'	161.0°	9.8°	303°

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 75D/Kohoutek are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4995140
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7700670
            i (Inclination)                 : 5.92690
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 269.55270
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 175.58600
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 265.16220
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.45534
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461711.94600
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 6.65

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 23
            Reference                       : CCO     7

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.892
        

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. (9.50 + 5 log[∆] + 15.00 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
2025-05-25 00:00 UT   19 37 57.7   -19 45 15     4.307    5.026  130.7    8.8   259   23.2 
2025-05-25 06:38 UT   19 37 52.7   -19 45 15     4.303    5.026  131.0    8.7   259   23.2 
2025-05-26 00:00 UT   19 37 39.4   -19 45 13     4.293    5.025  131.7    8.7   259   23.2 
2025-05-27 00:00 UT   19 37 20.2   -19 45 13     4.280    5.023  132.8    8.5   259   23.2 
2025-05-28 00:00 UT   19 37 00.2   -19 45 14     4.266    5.021  133.8    8.4   259   23.2 
2025-05-29 00:00 UT   19 36 39.4   -19 45 17     4.253    5.019  134.8    8.2   259   23.2 
2025-05-30 00:00 UT   19 36 17.8   -19 45 23     4.240    5.018  135.9    8.1   259   23.1 
2025-05-31 00:00 UT   19 35 55.3   -19 45 29     4.227    5.016  136.9    7.9   259   23.1 
2025-06-01 00:00 UT   19 35 32.1   -19 45 38     4.215    5.014  138.0    7.8   259   23.1 
2025-06-02 00:00 UT   19 35 08.1   -19 45 48     4.202    5.012  139.0    7.6   259   23.1 
2025-06-03 00:00 UT   19 34 43.3   -19 46 00     4.190    5.011  140.1    7.5   259   23.1 
2025-06-04 00:00 UT   19 34 17.7   -19 46 14     4.178    5.009  141.1    7.3   259   23.1 

    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.