C/2018 M1 (Catalina)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Jul 2018	17.1	1.308 AU	1.238 AU	02h11m	+22°52'	70.1°	47.0°	254°
Nearest approach	25 Jul 2018	17.2	1.325 AU	1.219 AU	02h52m	+35°01'	72.1°	46.8°	258°
Today	18 Apr 2024	33.2	15.273 AU	14.790 AU	10h02m	+20°40'	117.0°	3.4°	115°

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 M1 (Catalina) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9392650
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3080280
            i (Inclination)                 : 37.25070
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 339.43350
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 14.27360
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 350.88142
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.58284
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458310.37080
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 99.95

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPC117070

            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 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. (15.50 + 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
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   10 02 55.8   +20 40 22    14.788   15.272  117.1    3.4   115   33.2 
2024-04-18 03:26 UT   10 02 54.8   +20 40 21    14.790   15.273  117.0    3.4   115   33.2 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   10 02 48.9   +20 40 11    14.807   15.277  116.1    3.4   115   33.2 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   10 02 42.2   +20 39 58    14.827   15.281  115.1    3.4   114   33.2 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   10 02 35.7   +20 39 43    14.847   15.286  114.2    3.4   114   33.2 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   10 02 29.5   +20 39 27    14.867   15.291  113.2    3.5   114   33.2 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   10 02 23.6   +20 39 10    14.887   15.295  112.2    3.5   114   33.2 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   10 02 17.9   +20 38 51    14.907   15.300  111.2    3.5   114   33.2 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   10 02 12.5   +20 38 31    14.927   15.305  110.2    3.5   113   33.2 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   10 02 07.4   +20 38 09    14.948   15.309  109.3    3.6   113   33.2 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   10 02 02.5   +20 37 46    14.968   15.314  108.3    3.6   113   33.2 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   10 01 57.9   +20 37 21    14.989   15.319  107.3    3.6   113   33.2 

    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.