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If you are planning to get a look at comet Lulin, here's a simple way to find it.

1. Download and install Stellarium, one of the best open source planetarium software available.
2. Edit the ssystem.ini file (it's in the stellarium/data folder - I'm running OpenSuse Linux so it's /usr/local/share/stellarium/data/ssystem.ini) and add the following code.

[lulin]
name = C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
parent = Sun
radius = 100
oblateness = 0.0
halo = true
color = 1.0,1.0,1.0
tex_halo = star16x16.png
tex_map = nomap.png
coord_func = comet_orbit
orbit_TimeAtPericenter = 2454842.112213313327
orbit_PericenterDistance = 1.211815031505141
orbit_Eccentricity = 1.000243857235593
orbit_ArgOfPericenter = 136.8421983153854
orbit_AscendingNode = 338.5047481504214
orbit_Inclination = 178.3725975895116
lighting = false
albedo = 1
orbit_visualization_period = 10000000000

3. Fire up Stellarium and search for (F3) "C/2007 N3".

Here's a screen capture of what you should see. Obviously you will want to setup your location (F6) first.

Medium || Large

Edit: Latest data can be found at JPL by clicking here.

tp = orbit_TimeAtPericenter
q = orbit_PericenterDistance
e = orbit_Eccentricity
peri = orbit_ArgOfPericenter
node = orbit_AscendingNode
i = orbit_Inclination

Tags: lulin stellarium