Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is in the constellation of
Leo,
at a distance of
Finder Charts
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High precision deep sky finder chart, 60 arcmin wide, showing where Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is right now. Click on the image to see a more detailed fullscreen tracker view.
Also check out Where is Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?, a page that provides all the information needed to find Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in the sky and additional links to sky charts.
Celestial 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
Today's rise, transit and set times of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Wrocław, Poland (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/Warsaw):
- 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is above the horizon from Wrocław, Poland.
- Right now it is placed in the South-West direction at an altitude of 39.91° above the horizon.
- Given its current magnitude, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is visible with the help of a telescope having an aperture of 10 inches (250mm) or more.
- Go to interactive sky chart
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Distance from Earth
The distance of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth is currently
The following chart shows the distance of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth as a function of time. In the chart the distance data is measured in Astronomical Units and sampled with an interval of 1 day.
The value of the reported distance might be somewhat inaccurate around the times of closest approach for objects passing extremely close to Earth. The value of the distance of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth is also available as a real time updated value in the Live Position and Data Tracker.
Closest Approach
Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2099, the closest approach of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann to Earth happens on Fri Oct 13 2034 at a distance of 4.725860 Astronomical Units, or 706,978,663 kilometers:
NOTE: values for the closest approach are computed with a sampling interval of 1 day.
Light Curve
The following chart is the predicted light curve (visual magnitude as a function of time) of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, according to the most recent ephemerides data. Magnitude data is sampled with a 2 days interval and there might be inaccuracies for objects changing brightness very rapidly during the course of a few days. For comets there could be large discrepancies between the observed and predicted brightness because of their highly dynamic behaviour.
Orbital Elements
The following table lists the orbital elements of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann at epoch 30 August 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 | 2019-Mar-23 17:58:15 2,458,566.2488 JD |
| Next perihelion transit | 2033-Dec-23 17:44 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 |
View Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in the 3D Solar System Simulator
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 May 28 | 09h 43m 41s | +10° 07’ 57” | 17.73 | Leo |
| 2025 May 29 | 09h 44m 02s | +10° 06’ 06” | 17.73 | Leo |
| 2025 May 30 | 09h 44m 23s | +10° 04’ 13” | 17.74 | Leo |
| 2025 May 31 | 09h 44m 45s | +10° 02’ 16” | 17.74 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 01 | 09h 45m 07s | +10° 00’ 17” | 17.75 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 02 | 09h 45m 29s | +09° 58’ 15” | 17.75 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 03 | 09h 45m 52s | +09° 56’ 12” | 17.76 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 04 | 09h 46m 16s | +09° 54’ 05” | 17.76 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 05 | 09h 46m 40s | +09° 51’ 56” | 17.77 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 06 | 09h 47m 04s | +09° 49’ 44” | 17.77 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 07 | 09h 47m 29s | +09° 47’ 30” | 17.78 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 08 | 09h 47m 54s | +09° 45’ 13” | 17.78 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 09 | 09h 48m 19s | +09° 42’ 55” | 17.79 | Leo |
| 2025 Jun 10 | 09h 48m 45s | +09° 40’ 33” | 17.79 | Leo |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann: Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?: Key information on locating Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in the sky.
- Distance 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: Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's rise and set times 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 position tracker with 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.