Comet 126P/IRAS
Comet 126P/IRAS is in the constellation of Ursa Major, at a distance of
Finder Charts
The sky charts below show, at different resolutions, the position of comet 126P/IRAS in the sky. Click on each chart to access the interactive star map tool.
The following map uses photographic imagery from the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) to realistically visualize the precise position of comet 126P/IRAS against the stars in the background. The horizontal size of the map measures 60 arcminutes. Click on the image to access a more detailed full-screen view.
Equatorial Coordinates
Apparent
J2000
Additional Information
The observed values of Magnitude, Coma Diameter and Tail Length are derived from the most recent observation recorded at the Comet Observers Database. The value of Predicted Magnitude comes from the JPL Horizons ephemerides service and, in the case of comets, might be inaccurate given the highly dynamic and unpredictable behavior of these objects. When available, please refer to the Observed Magnitude value and consider the Predicted Magnitude as a directional indication. We acknowledge with thanks the comet observations from the COBS Comet Observation Database contributed by observers worldwide and used in this table to report recent comet observations.
Rise and Set Times
The following table lists today's rise, transit and set times of comet 126P/IRAS from Isle of Lewis, United Kingdom (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):
If you need to access this information frequently for your observations, you can create a simple customized Quick Access page, so that you can easily bookmark it in your browser favorites or add a shortcut to your mobile phones' home screen.
Distance from Earth
The distance of comet 126P/IRAS from Earth is currently
The following graph shows the distance of comet 126P/IRAS from Earth as a function of time. In the chart the distance is measured in Astronomical Units and the data is sampled with an interval of 1 day.
Note: The values in this chart may not be entirely accurate around the time of closest approach for objects passing very close to Earth at high speed (e.g., Near-Earth Objects).
The value of the distance of 126P/IRAS from Earth is also available as a real time updated value in the live position tracker.
Closest Approach to Earth
In the period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2099, the closest approach of comet 126P/IRAS to Earth will happen on Sunday 21 September 2036 at a distance of 0.789938 Astronomical Units, or 118,172,990 kilometers:
Note: the values for the closest approach are computed with a sampling interval of 1 day.
Light Curve
The following chart shows the light curve of comet 126P/IRAS, i.e., its apparent magnitude as a function of time. The curve is calculated using the latest ephemerides provided by JPL Horizons. The magnitude data is sampled with the interval of 2 days. Because of this sampling, inaccuracies may occur for objects that have large variations of brightness over a few days. For comets, large discrepancies can arise between the calculated brightness and the observations due to their highly dynamic, and not always precisely predictable, behavior.
Orbital Elements
The following table lists the orbital elements of comet 126P/IRAS at epoch May, 26 2021 00:00 UTC (JD: 2459361.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database
| Element | Symbol | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit eccentricity | e | 0.69627539 |
| Orbit inclination | i | 45.86937072° |
| Perihelion distance | q | 1.71300788 AU 256,262,332 km |
| Aphelion distance | Q |
9.56699938 AU 1,431,202,739 km |
| Semi-major axis | a |
5.64000363 AU 843,732,535 km |
| Orbital period | period |
13.3945 years 4,892.3498 days |
| Date of perihelion transit | Tp | July 5, 2023 2,460,130.8555 JD |
| Next perihelion transit | November 25, 2036 2,465,023.2053 JD |
|
| Argument of perihelion | peri | 356.52368326532° |
| Longitude of the ascending node | node | 357.86222638312° |
| Mean anomaly | M | 303.38753461122° |
| Mean motion | n | 0.07358427°/day |
Orbit Visualization
The following chart is a 3D animated visualization of the orbit of comet 126P/IRAS relative to the other major objects in the Solar System. You can access more advanced features using our 3D Solar System Viewer.
15 Days Ephemeris
The following table lists the ephemerides of comet 126P/IRAS computed for the past and next 7 days, with a 24 hours interval. Apparent celestial coordinates are provided.
| Date | Right AscensionR.A. | DeclinationDec. | MagnitudeMag | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 2025 | 09h 48m 04s | +43° 30’ 51” | 24.28 | Ursa Major |
| Jun 26 2025 | 09h 48m 44s | +43° 23’ 36” | 24.29 | Ursa Major |
| Jun 27 2025 | 09h 49m 24s | +43° 16’ 24” | 24.30 | Ursa Major |
| Jun 28 2025 | 09h 50m 04s | +43° 09’ 13” | 24.31 | Ursa Major |
| Jun 29 2025 | 09h 50m 45s | +43° 02’ 04” | 24.32 | Ursa Major |
| Jun 30 2025 | 09h 51m 26s | +42° 54’ 58” | 24.33 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 01 2025 | 09h 52m 08s | +42° 47’ 53” | 24.33 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 02 2025 | 09h 52m 49s | +42° 40’ 50” | 24.34 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 03 2025 | 09h 53m 31s | +42° 33’ 49” | 24.35 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 04 2025 | 09h 54m 12s | +42° 26’ 50” | 24.36 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 05 2025 | 09h 54m 54s | +42° 19’ 55” | 24.37 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 06 2025 | 09h 55m 37s | +42° 13’ 00” | 24.37 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 07 2025 | 09h 56m 19s | +42° 06’ 07” | 24.38 | Ursa Major |
| Jul 08 2025 | 09h 57m 02s | +41° 59’ 16” | 24.39 | Ursa Major |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet 126P/IRAS: Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is comet 126P/IRAS?: Key information on where to find comet 126P/IRAS in the sky.
- Distance of comet 126P/IRAS from Earth: Find out how far comet 126P/IRAS is from Earth right now.
- How Bright is comet 126P/IRAS?: Current visual brightness (magnitude) and apparent size.
- Rise and Set Times: Rise and set times of comet 126P/IRAS from your location.
- Interactive Sky Map: Planetarium-style interactive visualization of comet 126P/IRAS's position in the sky.
- Live Position Tracker: High precision real time tracker of comet 126P/IRAS's position using deep space imagery.
- Ephemeris: 15 days comet 126P/IRAS's computed ephemeris.
- Orbital elements: Information about comet 126P/IRAS orbital parameters.
- Orbit Visualization: 3D interactive visualization showing the orbit of comet 126P/IRAS with respect to the major Solar System objects.