C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	16 Nov 2013	5.5	1.013 AU	0.465 AU	11h32m	+38°04'	79.5°	73.7°	304°
Perihelion	18 Dec 2013	5.7	0.821 AU	0.927 AU	16h47m	+25°18'	50.8°	68.2°	342°
Today	9 May 2024	34.6	25.802 AU	25.294 AU	18h58m	-65°09'	119.2°	2.0°	293°

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.)

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

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9980730
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8211360
            i (Inclination)                 : 63.96980
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.69710
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.28580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 117.04962
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.98309
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456645.39410
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 8796.30

            Epoch                           : 2021 Feb 13
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-BE3

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.07 + 5 log[∆] + 14.53 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   18 58 17.2   -65 08 12    25.298   25.798  118.7    2.0   292   34.6 
2024-05-09 18:45 UT   18 58 07.9   -65 09 21    25.294   25.802  119.2    2.0   293   34.6 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   18 58 05.3   -65 09 40    25.293   25.803  119.3    2.0   293   34.6 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   18 57 53.0   -65 11 06    25.288   25.807  119.9    1.9   294   34.6 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   18 57 40.4   -65 12 32    25.283   25.812  120.6    1.9   295   34.6 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   18 57 27.5   -65 13 56    25.278   25.817  121.2    1.9   296   34.6 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   18 57 14.3   -65 15 20    25.274   25.821  121.8    1.9   297   34.6 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   18 57 00.7   -65 16 42    25.270   25.826  122.4    1.9   298   34.6 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   18 56 46.8   -65 18 04    25.266   25.831  123.0    1.9   299   34.6 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   18 56 32.7   -65 19 25    25.262   25.835  123.6    1.9   300   34.6 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   18 56 18.2   -65 20 45    25.258   25.840  124.1    1.9   301   34.6 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   18 56 03.4   -65 22 03    25.255   25.845  124.7    1.8   302   34.6 

    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.