The comet 88P/Howell
From Fairfield , 88P/Howell is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:37, when it rises to an altitude of 21° above your south-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:17, 43° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:28, 34° above your south-western horizon.
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Name
88P/Howell
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Object Type
Comet
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| Constellation: | Virgo |
| Magnitude: | 13.71 (V) [2] |
| Absolute mag (H): | 5.40 [2] |
| Slope parameter (n): | 7.32 [2] |
| Right ascension: | 13h45m [1] |
| Declination: | -05°49' [1] |
| Distance: | 1.69 AU 14.07 lightmin [1] |
| Semi-major axis: | 3.11 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.564251 |
| Inclination: | 4.38° |
| Longitude ascending node: | 56.69° |
| Argument of perihelion: | 235.92° |
| Epoch of elements: | 26 February 2020 |
| Mean Anomaly at epoch: | 321.52° |
| Perihelion: | 1.35 AU |
| Aphelion: | 4.86 AU |
| Orbital period: | 5.47 years |
| 16 Sep 2020 | – 88P/Howell reaches its brightest |
| 26 Sep 2020 | – 88P/Howell at perihelion |
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.