C/2013 V5 (Oukaimeden)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 Sep 2014	5.4	0.682 AU	0.475 AU	10h25m	-29°22'	36.1°	119.7°	208°
Perihelion	26 Sep 2014	6.3	0.637 AU	0.709 AU	14h04m	-29°20'	39.2°	96.1°	131°
Today	24 Feb 2026	30.5	27.629 AU	26.716 AU	11h19m	+29°18'	156.9°	0.8°	214°

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. The light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (9.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 V5 (Oukaimeden) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9980840
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6373060
    i (Inclination)                 : 154.88630
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 278.76790
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 314.91330
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 321.01400
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -17.49131
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456926.67650
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 6066.37

    Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
    Reference                       : MPC102951

    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
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   11 19 48.2   +29 17 02    26.712   27.624  156.7    0.8   217   30.5 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   11 19 38.7   +29 18 04    26.715   27.629  156.9    0.8   215   30.5 
2026-02-24 04:22 UT   11 19 36.9   +29 18 15    26.716   27.629  156.9    0.8   214   30.5 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   11 19 29.1   +29 19 05    26.718   27.633  157.0    0.8   212   30.5 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   11 19 19.5   +29 20 05    26.722   27.637  157.1    0.8   209   30.5 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   11 19 09.8   +29 21 04    26.726   27.642  157.1    0.8   207   30.6 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   11 19 00.2   +29 22 02    26.730   27.646  157.1    0.8   204   30.6 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   11 18 50.5   +29 22 60    26.735   27.651  157.1    0.8   201   30.6 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   11 18 40.7   +29 23 56    26.740   27.655  157.0    0.8   198   30.6 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   11 18 31.0   +29 24 52    26.745   27.660  156.9    0.8   196   30.6 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   11 18 21.2   +29 25 46    26.750   27.664  156.7    0.8   193   30.6 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   11 18 11.4   +29 26 40    26.756   27.669  156.5    0.8   191   30.6 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   11 18 01.6   +29 27 33    26.762   27.673  156.2    0.8   188   30.6 

    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.