The comet 2P/Encke
Finder chart
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From Fairfield , 2P/Encke will become visible around 17:37 (EST) as the dusk sky fades, 48° above your southern horizon. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:14.
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|
Name
2P/Encke
|
Object Type
Comet
|
Current Position
| Constellation: | Pisces |
| Magnitude: | 16.51 (V) [2] |
| Absolute mag (H): | 10.20 [2] |
| Slope parameter (n): | 3.84 [2] |
| Right ascension: | 22h52m [1] |
| Declination: | -00°28' [1] |
| Distance: | 2.65 AU 22.04 lightmin [1] |
Orbital Elements [1]
| Semi-major axis: | 2.22 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.848001 |
| Inclination: | 11.76° |
| Longitude ascending node: | 334.55° |
| Argument of perihelion: | 186.56° |
| Epoch of elements: | 13 December 2019 |
| Mean Anomaly at epoch: | 301.45° |
Derived quantities
| Perihelion: | 0.34 AU |
| Aphelion: | 4.09 AU |
| Orbital period: | 3.30 years |
Additional sources
Where possible, the brightnesses of comets are estimated from absolute magnitude values computed by the BAA Comet Section, based on the observations they receive. We prefer these to the Minor Planet Center's own magnitude estimates, since the latter are less often updated. Nonetheless, comets are intrinsically unpredictable objects, and magnitude estimates must always be taken with a pinch of salt.