C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Nov 2013	4.9	1.015 AU	0.351 AU	11h28m	+38°58'	84.4°	75.5°	301°
Perihelion	24 Dec 2013	5.4	0.799 AU	0.894 AU	17h17m	+24°53'	50.1°	70.8°	343°
Today	12 Aug 2026	35.7	29.497 AU	28.960 AU	18h37m	-66°28'	121.1°	1.7°	50°

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)                : 0.9981440
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.7990580
    i (Inclination)                 : 64.30790
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.07150
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 66.84810
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 116.46589
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.95155
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456651.30290
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8933.07

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194134

    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
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   18 37 43.9   -66 29 42    28.934   29.488  122.3    1.7    48   35.7 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   18 37 29.2   -66 28 56    28.947   29.493  121.7    1.7    49   35.7 
2026-08-12 23:20 UT   18 37 15.1   -66 28 10    28.960   29.497  121.1    1.7    50   35.7 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   18 37 14.7   -66 28 08    28.960   29.497  121.1    1.7    50   35.7 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   18 37 00.5   -66 27 20    28.973   29.502  120.5    1.7    51   35.7 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   18 36 46.6   -66 26 31    28.986   29.506  119.9    1.7    52   35.7 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   18 36 32.9   -66 25 40    29.000   29.510  119.3    1.7    53   35.7 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   18 36 19.5   -66 24 48    29.014   29.515  118.7    1.7    54   35.7 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   18 36 06.4   -66 23 55    29.028   29.519  118.1    1.7    55   35.7 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   18 35 53.6   -66 23 02    29.042   29.523  117.5    1.7    56   35.7 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   18 35 41.0   -66 22 07    29.056   29.528  116.9    1.8    57   35.7 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   18 35 28.7   -66 21 11    29.070   29.532  116.2    1.8    58   35.7 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   18 35 16.7   -66 20 14    29.084   29.536  115.6    1.8    59   35.7 

    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.