C/2018 K1 (Weiland) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 8 Apr 2018 | 18.4 | 1.880 AU | 2.218 AU | 21h43m | -21°41' | 57.5° | 26.7° | 246° |
Nearest approach | 9 Jun 2018 | 17.0 | 2.025 AU | 1.017 AU | 17h51m | -25°09' | 170.0° | 5.0° | 281° |
Today | 6 Sep 2025 | 32.9 | 18.069 AU | 19.001 AU | 10h16m | +25°27' | 21.7° | 1.2° | 329° |
C/2018 K1 (Weiland)- 2025-09-06
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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
2025-09-06 00:00 UT 10 16 19.1 +25 27 37 19.001 18.067 21.4 1.2 330 32.9
2025-09-06 10:13 UT 10 16 23.8 +25 27 17 19.001 18.069 21.7 1.2 329 32.9
2025-09-07 00:00 UT 10 16 30.1 +25 26 51 19.000 18.071 22.1 1.2 329 32.9
2025-09-08 00:00 UT 10 16 41.1 +25 26 05 18.999 18.076 22.9 1.2 327 32.9
2025-09-09 00:00 UT 10 16 52.0 +25 25 21 18.998 18.080 23.6 1.3 326 32.9
2025-09-10 00:00 UT 10 17 02.9 +25 24 38 18.996 18.084 24.4 1.3 324 32.9
2025-09-11 00:00 UT 10 17 13.7 +25 23 55 18.995 18.089 25.1 1.4 323 32.9
2025-09-12 00:00 UT 10 17 24.5 +25 23 14 18.993 18.093 25.9 1.4 322 32.9
2025-09-13 00:00 UT 10 17 35.2 +25 22 34 18.991 18.098 26.7 1.4 321 32.9
2025-09-14 00:00 UT 10 17 45.8 +25 21 55 18.988 18.102 27.5 1.5 320 32.9
2025-09-15 00:00 UT 10 17 56.4 +25 21 16 18.985 18.107 28.3 1.5 319 32.9
2025-09-16 00:00 UT 10 18 06.9 +25 20 39 18.982 18.111 29.1 1.5 318 32.9
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.