C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Jul 2018	8.8	1.296 AU	0.294 AU	20h26m	-38°19'	160.7°	15.0°	2°
Perihelion	4 Aug 2018	9.4	1.292 AU	0.391 AU	17h12m	-29°14'	127.8°	38.3°	90°
Today	9 May 2026	30.1	20.724 AU	20.644 AU	09h53m	+24°54'	93.1°	2.8°	111°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.4 + 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/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9972580
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2921300
    i (Inclination)                 : 159.33050
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 292.71350
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 354.66320
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 297.70858
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.88138
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458334.59850
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 10229.59

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   09 54 02.6   +24 55 28    20.602   20.714   94.9    2.8   111   30.1 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   09 53 59.8   +24 55 01    20.624   20.719   94.0    2.8   111   30.1 
2026-05-09 21:50 UT   09 53 57.5   +24 54 36    20.644   20.724   93.1    2.8   111   30.1 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   09 53 57.3   +24 54 34    20.646   20.724   93.0    2.8   111   30.1 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   09 53 54.9   +24 54 05    20.668   20.729   92.1    2.8   111   30.1 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   09 53 52.8   +24 53 36    20.689   20.734   91.1    2.8   110   30.1 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   09 53 50.8   +24 53 06    20.711   20.739   90.2    2.8   110   30.1 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   09 53 49.1   +24 52 34    20.733   20.744   89.2    2.8   110   30.1 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   09 53 47.6   +24 52 02    20.755   20.750   88.3    2.8   110   30.1 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   09 53 46.2   +24 51 29    20.777   20.755   87.3    2.8   110   30.1 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   09 53 45.1   +24 50 55    20.799   20.760   86.4    2.8   109   30.1 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   09 53 44.2   +24 50 20    20.820   20.765   85.4    2.8   109   30.1 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   09 53 43.4   +24 49 45    20.842   20.770   84.5    2.8   109   30.1 

    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.