C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 27 Jul 2018 | 9.0 | 1.310 AU | 0.306 AU | 20h24m | -37°13' | 161.9° | 13.9° | 2° |
Perihelion | 3 Aug 2018 | 9.5 | 1.306 AU | 0.397 AU | 17h20m | -29°14' | 130.2° | 36.4° | 89° |
Today | 12 Sep 2025 | 29.8 | 19.480 AU | 20.388 AU | 10h13m | +22°56' | 24.8° | 1.2° | 316° |
C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE)- 2025-09-12
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 N1 (NEOWISE) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9974900
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.3062340
i (Inclination) : 159.38870
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 292.59000
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 354.74820
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 297.50734
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -1.84650
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458333.93300
P (Orbital period in years) : 11871.92
Epoch : 2023 Sep 24
Reference : MPEC 2022-M21
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 (15.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.36 + 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
2025-09-12 00:00 UT 10 13 08.9 +22 56 15 20.388 19.479 24.7 1.2 317 29.8
2025-09-12 04:24 UT 10 13 10.8 +22 56 07 20.388 19.480 24.8 1.2 316 29.8
2025-09-13 00:00 UT 10 13 18.9 +22 55 32 20.387 19.484 25.5 1.3 316 29.8
2025-09-14 00:00 UT 10 13 28.8 +22 54 49 20.385 19.489 26.3 1.3 315 29.8
2025-09-15 00:00 UT 10 13 38.6 +22 54 08 20.383 19.495 27.2 1.4 314 29.8
2025-09-16 00:00 UT 10 13 48.3 +22 53 28 20.381 19.500 28.0 1.4 313 29.8
2025-09-17 00:00 UT 10 13 58.0 +22 52 48 20.378 19.505 28.9 1.4 312 29.8
2025-09-18 00:00 UT 10 14 07.6 +22 52 09 20.376 19.510 29.8 1.5 311 29.8
2025-09-19 00:00 UT 10 14 17.1 +22 51 32 20.373 19.516 30.6 1.5 311 29.8
2025-09-20 00:00 UT 10 14 26.6 +22 50 55 20.370 19.521 31.5 1.5 310 29.8
2025-09-21 00:00 UT 10 14 35.9 +22 50 19 20.366 19.526 32.4 1.6 309 29.8
2025-09-22 00:00 UT 10 14 45.2 +22 49 44 20.362 19.531 33.3 1.6 309 29.8
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.