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	26 Apr 2024	28.7	16.729 AU	16.384 AU	10h07m	+25°04'	108.4°	3.3°	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 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   10 07 14.2   +25 04 27    16.381   16.728  108.5    3.3   115   28.7 
2024-04-26 02:38 UT   10 07 13.4   +25 04 26    16.384   16.729  108.4    3.3   115   28.7 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   10 07 06.8   +25 04 11    16.403   16.734  107.5    3.3   115   28.7 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   10 06 59.8   +25 03 53    16.424   16.740  106.6    3.3   115   28.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   10 06 52.9   +25 03 34    16.446   16.745  105.6    3.3   115   28.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   10 06 46.4   +25 03 14    16.468   16.751  104.6    3.3   114   28.7 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   10 06 40.0   +25 02 52    16.490   16.757  103.7    3.3   114   28.7 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   10 06 34.0   +25 02 29    16.511   16.762  102.7    3.4   114   28.7 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   10 06 28.2   +25 02 04    16.533   16.768  101.7    3.4   114   28.7 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   10 06 22.6   +25 01 38    16.555   16.774  100.8    3.4   113   28.7 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   10 06 17.3   +25 01 11    16.577   16.779   99.8    3.4   113   28.7 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   10 06 12.3   +25 00 42    16.600   16.785   98.9    3.4   113   28.7 

    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.