Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is in the constellation of
Taurus,
at a distance of
Finder Charts
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High precision deep sky finder chart, 60 arcmin wide, showing where Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is right now. Click on the image to see a more detailed fullscreen tracker view.
Also check out Where is Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?, a page that provides all the information needed to find Comet 73P/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 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Greenwich, UK (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):
- 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is above the horizon from Greenwich, UK.
- Right now it is placed in the East-North-East direction at an altitude of 11.67° above the horizon.
- Given its current magnitude, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is visible only through long exposure photography.
- Go to interactive sky chart
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Distance from Earth
The distance of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from Earth is currently
The following chart shows the distance of Comet 73P/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 73P/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 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann to Earth happens on Wed Aug 5 2048 at a distance of 0.115627 Astronomical Units, or 17,297,528 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 73P/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.
15 Days Ephemeris
The following table lists the ephemerides of Comet 73P/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 15 | 05h 35m 06s | +26° 35’ 29” | 30.24 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 16 | 05h 35m 54s | +26° 36’ 01” | 30.24 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 17 | 05h 36m 43s | +26° 36’ 32” | 30.24 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 18 | 05h 37m 32s | +26° 37’ 03” | 30.25 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 19 | 05h 38m 20s | +26° 37’ 33” | 30.25 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 20 | 05h 39m 10s | +26° 38’ 02” | 30.25 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 21 | 05h 39m 59s | +26° 38’ 32” | 30.25 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 22 | 05h 40m 48s | +26° 39’ 00” | 30.25 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 23 | 05h 41m 38s | +26° 39’ 28” | 30.26 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 24 | 05h 42m 28s | +26° 39’ 55” | 30.26 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 25 | 05h 43m 18s | +26° 40’ 22” | 30.26 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 26 | 05h 44m 09s | +26° 40’ 48” | 30.26 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 27 | 05h 44m 59s | +26° 41’ 13” | 30.26 | Taurus |
| 2025 May 28 | 05h 45m 50s | +26° 41’ 39” | 30.26 | Taurus |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann: Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?: Key information on locating Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in the sky.
- Distance from Earth: Find out how far Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is from Earth right now.
- How Bright is Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann?: Current visual brightness (magnitude) and apparent size.
- Rise and Set Times: Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's rise and set times from your location.
- Interactive Sky Map: planetarium-style interactive visualization of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's position in the sky.
- Live Position Tracker: high precision position tracker with deep space imagery.
- Ephemeris: 15 days Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's computed ephemeris.