C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Nov 2013	4.9	1.014 AU	0.359 AU	11h29m	+38°41'	83.8°	75.6°	302°
Perihelion	24 Dec 2013	5.4	0.800 AU	0.896 AU	17h15m	+24°51'	50.1°	70.7°	343°
Today	13 Mar 2026	35.6	28.833 AU	29.026 AU	19h05m	-64°36'	77.8°	1.9°	250°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.1 + 5 log[∆] + 14.5 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9981310
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.7996620
    i (Inclination)                 : 64.33430
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.10410
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 66.83900
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 116.45845
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.96458
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456650.85570
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8850.05

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   19 05 21.8   -64 34 07    29.041   28.825   76.5    1.9   249   35.6 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   19 05 30.0   -64 35 21    29.033   28.829   77.2    1.9   250   35.6 
2026-03-13 20:10 UT   19 05 36.8   -64 36 25    29.026   28.833   77.8    1.9   250   35.6 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   19 05 38.1   -64 36 37    29.025   28.834   77.9    1.9   250   35.6 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   19 05 45.8   -64 37 53    29.017   28.838   78.6    1.9   251   35.6 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   19 05 53.2   -64 39 10    29.009   28.843   79.4    1.9   252   35.6 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   19 06 00.3   -64 40 28    29.001   28.847   80.1    1.9   252   35.6 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   19 06 07.2   -64 41 46    28.993   28.851   80.8    2.0   253   35.6 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   19 06 13.7   -64 43 05    28.984   28.856   81.6    2.0   254   35.6 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   19 06 19.9   -64 44 25    28.976   28.860   82.3    2.0   254   35.6 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   19 06 25.9   -64 45 45    28.968   28.865   83.0    2.0   255   35.6 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   19 06 31.5   -64 47 05    28.960   28.869   83.7    2.0   256   35.6 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   19 06 36.8   -64 48 27    28.951   28.873   84.5    2.0   256   35.6 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.