Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is in the constellation of Leo, at a distance of
Finder Charts
The sky charts below show, at different resolutions, the position of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Greenwich, UK (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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth is currently
The following graph shows the distance of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann to Earth will happen on Friday 13 October 2034 at a distance of 4.725860 Astronomical Units, or 706,978,663 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann at epoch August, 30 2016 00:00 UTC (JD: 2457631.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database
| Element | Symbol | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit eccentricity | e | 0.04166605 |
| Orbit inclination | i | 9.37634488° |
| Perihelion distance | q | 5.76487038 AU 862,412,335 km |
| Aphelion distance | Q |
6.26615567 AU 937,403,547 km |
| Semi-major axis | a |
6.01551302 AU 899,907,941 km |
| Orbital period | period |
14.7543 years 5,388.9907 days |
| Date of perihelion transit | Tp | March 23, 2019 2,458,566.2488 JD |
| Next perihelion transit | December 23, 2033 2,463,955.2395 JD |
|
| Argument of perihelion | peri | 48.907923433605° |
| Longitude of the ascending node | node | 312.40903929554° |
| Mean anomaly | M | 297.55610601739° |
| Mean motion | n | 0.06680286°/day |
Orbit Visualization
The following chart is a 3D animated visualization of the orbit of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 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 18 2025 | 09h 52m 26s | +09° 20’ 15” | 17.83 | Leo |
| Jun 19 2025 | 09h 52m 56s | +09° 17’ 32” | 17.84 | Leo |
| Jun 20 2025 | 09h 53m 25s | +09° 14’ 47” | 17.84 | Leo |
| Jun 21 2025 | 09h 53m 55s | +09° 12’ 01” | 17.84 | Leo |
| Jun 22 2025 | 09h 54m 25s | +09° 09’ 11” | 17.85 | Leo |
| Jun 23 2025 | 09h 54m 56s | +09° 06’ 20” | 17.85 | Leo |
| Jun 24 2025 | 09h 55m 27s | +09° 03’ 26” | 17.86 | Leo |
| Jun 25 2025 | 09h 55m 58s | +09° 00’ 29” | 17.86 | Leo |
| Jun 26 2025 | 09h 56m 30s | +08° 57’ 32” | 17.87 | Leo |
| Jun 27 2025 | 09h 57m 02s | +08° 54’ 31” | 17.87 | Leo |
| Jun 28 2025 | 09h 57m 34s | +08° 51’ 29” | 17.87 | Leo |
| Jun 29 2025 | 09h 58m 06s | +08° 48’ 24” | 17.88 | Leo |
| Jun 30 2025 | 09h 58m 39s | +08° 45’ 17” | 17.88 | Leo |
| Jul 01 2025 | 09h 59m 12s | +08° 42’ 09” | 17.89 | Leo |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann: Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?: Key information on where to find comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in the sky.
- Distance of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth: Find out how far comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is from Earth right now.
- How Bright is comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?: Current visual brightness (magnitude) and apparent size.
- Rise and Set Times: Rise and set times of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from your location.
- Interactive Sky Map: Planetarium-style interactive visualization of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's position in the sky.
- Live Position Tracker: High precision real time tracker of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's position using deep space imagery.
- Ephemeris: 15 days comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's computed ephemeris.
- Orbital elements: Information about comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann orbital parameters.
- Orbit Visualization: 3D interactive visualization showing the orbit of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann with respect to the major Solar System objects.