Observation details: comet 78P/Gehrels 2
Daily motion of 78P/Gehrels 2
From your location, 78P/Gehrels 2 is Visible from before midnight until sunrise. Its current altitude, direction, rise and set times, and finder chart are shown below.90000846 78P/Gehrels 2 will remain visible until May 26, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
78P/Gehrels 2 visibility on 2026-11-06
78P/Gehrels 2 Visible from before midnight until sunrise
78P/Gehrels 2 rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 18.4% illuminated  | 22:13 | 49° |
| Moonset | 10:25 | -29° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 13:57 | -33° |
| 78P/Gehrels 2 rise | 17:48 | |
| 78P/Gehrels 2 transit | 00:32 | 63° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 00:34 | 63° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 01:06 | 62° |
| Civil sunrise | 01:38 | 60° |
| Sunrise | 02:08 | 56° |
Track 78P/Gehrels 2 position throughout the night
← 6 November 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe 78P/Gehrels 2 changing position in the night sky.
78P/Gehrels 2 Description
This comet is designated 90000846 78P/Gehrels 2, Encke-type comet. 78P/Gehrels 2 completes an orbit around the Sun in 7.2 years. It is currently 1.833 AU (274,144,082 km) from Earth, and is located in the constellation Cancer.Current position in the Solar System: 78P/Gehrels 2
| Date | Fri, 6 November 2026 |
| Distance from Earth | 1.83254 AU (274,144,082km) |
| Elongation | 103° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 15.1 |
Finder Chart for 78P/Gehrels 2
Annual motion of 78P/Gehrels 2
| Date | Sat, 7 November 2026 |
| Twilight start | 13:52 |
| Twilight end | 00:29 |
| Twilight duration | 11h 37m |
| Rise | 17:45 |
| Set | 07:13 |
| Elevation at transit | 63° |
| Transit time | 00:29 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 08h 04m 27s", Dec: 13° 08' 10s |
| Magnitude | 15 |
| Constellation | Cancer |
The graph summarizes the object’s annual visibility, daily observing windows and transit times.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of 90000846 78P/Gehrels 2
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 08h 03m 47s |
| Declination | 13° 13′ 60″ |
| Magnitude | 15.1 |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Elevation | 30.4° |
| Azimuth | 98.4° |
Acknowledgments
Orbital and small-body data are provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). These resources support accurate positions, orbits and physical characteristics.