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Sky-Tonight.com / Comets / 90000896 88P/Howell
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Comet 90000896 88P/Howell Observation Details

88P/Howell

88P/Howell Daily Motion

Tonight, observing 88P/Howell may prove challenging owing to its low elevation. It will reach its transit at by 08:33 and set before sunset at 13:26. Rising near twilight's end at 03:40, it will fade away by 03:41, peaking at just 1° above the horizon.
90000896 88P/Howell will become visible in July, 1. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from July, 1, 90000896 88P/Howell can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.

88P/Howell Visibility Timetable on December 16

88P/Howell Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 18% illuminated01:22-26°
88P/Howell transit08:3332°
Moon Set11:5016°
88P/Howell set13:26
Astrosession begin16:24-34°
88P/Howell rise03:40
Astrosession end03:411°
Civil sunrise04:4612°
Sunrise05:1716°

Track 88P/Howell Position Throughout the Night

← Tue, 16 December 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe 88P/Howell changing position in the night sky.

88P/Howell Description

88P/Howell, designated as 90000896 88P/Howell, is an Encke-type comet. At the moment, 90000896 88P/Howell is 2.567 AU (384,062,613 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Libra.

Current position of 88P/Howell in Solar System

Earth 88P/Howell
DateTue, 16 December 2025
Distance from Earth to 88P/Howell2.5584 AU (382,731,192km)
Elongation21°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude16.2
This section provides an interactive projection of the solar system, illustrating the relative positions of 88P/Howell, Earth, and the Sun throughout the year. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year, observing how the positions of 88P/Howell and Earth shift in their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for 88P/Howell

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name90000896 88P/Howell
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
90000896 88P/Howell coordinates16.03042, -20.33153
Center coordinates16.03042, -20.33153

Annual motion of 88P/Howell

Time
DateTue, 16 December 2025
Twighlight start16:20
Twighlight end03:35
Twighlight duration11h 15m
Rise03:37
Set13:22
Elevation at transit32°
Transit time08:30
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 16h 04m 48s", Dec: -20° 29' 43s
Magnitude16
ConstellationScorpius
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a 88P/Howell, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the 88P/Howell is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of 90000896 88P/Howell

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension16.03042°
Declination-20.33153°
Magnitude16.2
ConstellationLibra
Elevation26.5°
Azimuth150.2°

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for providing essential data on asteroids and comets through their Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). Their continuous efforts in tracking and cataloging these celestial bodies make it possible to offer accurate and up-to-date information on their positions, orbits, and physical characteristics.