C/2018 K1 (Weiland)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion8 Apr 201818.41.880 AU2.218 AU21h43m-21°41'57.5°26.7°246°
Nearest approach9 Jun 201817.02.025 AU1.017 AU17h51m-25°09'170.0°5.0°281°
Today31 Oct 202432.316.656 AU17.010 AU10h34m+24°28'67.5°3.2°299°
C/2018 K1 (Weiland)- 2024-10-31
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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/2018 K1 (Weiland) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9378170
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.8796280
            i (Inclination)                 : 164.18610
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 260.20330
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 325.25290
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 293.92230
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.93539
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458216.66380
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 166.19

            Epoch                           : 2023 Apr 14
            Reference                       : MPC114602

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 (14.90 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 13.92 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   10 34 22.3   +24 28 29    17.010   16.655   67.5    3.2   299   32.3 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   10 34 22.5   +24 28 30    17.010   16.656   67.5    3.2   299   32.3 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   10 34 27.1   +24 28 52    16.999   16.660   68.4    3.2   298   32.3 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   10 34 31.7   +24 29 17    16.988   16.665   69.4    3.2   298   32.3 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   10 34 36.1   +24 29 44    16.977   16.670   70.3    3.2   298   32.3 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   10 34 40.2   +24 30 12    16.965   16.674   71.3    3.2   297   32.3 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   10 34 44.2   +24 30 42    16.954   16.679   72.2    3.2   297   32.3 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   10 34 47.9   +24 31 13    16.942   16.684   73.2    3.3   297   32.3 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   10 34 51.4   +24 31 46    16.931   16.688   74.2    3.3   297   32.3 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   10 34 54.6   +24 32 21    16.919   16.693   75.1    3.3   296   32.3 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   10 34 57.7   +24 32 57    16.907   16.698   76.1    3.3   296   32.3 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   10 35 00.5   +24 33 35    16.896   16.702   77.1    3.3   296   32.3 

































































    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.