C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Oct 2019	11.7	3.146 AU	2.226 AU	01h12m	+36°24'	153.0°	8.3°	168°
Perihelion	11 Nov 2019	11.8	3.138 AU	2.330 AU	00h20m	+38°49'	138.2°	12.1°	109°
Today	26 May 2026	22.4	17.098 AU	16.484 AU	13h41m	+18°05'	125.9°	2.8°	135°

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 5.6 + 5 log[∆] + 8.7 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 N2 (ASASSN) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0021000
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1381380
    i (Inclination)                 : 77.43460
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 25.27430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 24.63180
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 30.97071
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.00414
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458799.46980

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 26
    Reference                       : MPC194156

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   13 42 10.2   +18 07 01    16.451   17.087  127.5    2.7   136   22.4 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   13 41 58.8   +18 06 22    16.468   17.093  126.7    2.7   136   22.4 
2026-05-26 23:49 UT   13 41 47.6   +18 05 41    16.484   17.098  125.9    2.8   135   22.4 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   13 41 47.5   +18 05 41    16.484   17.098  125.9    2.8   135   22.4 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   13 41 36.4   +18 04 58    16.501   17.103  125.0    2.8   134   22.4 
2026-05-29 00:00 UT   13 41 25.4   +18 04 13    16.518   17.109  124.2    2.8   134   22.4 
2026-05-30 00:00 UT   13 41 14.6   +18 03 26    16.535   17.114  123.4    2.8   133   22.4 
2026-05-31 00:00 UT   13 41 04.0   +18 02 36    16.552   17.119  122.6    2.9   132   22.4 
2026-06-01 00:00 UT   13 40 53.6   +18 01 46    16.569   17.125  121.7    2.9   132   22.4 
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   13 40 43.3   +18 00 53    16.587   17.130  120.9    2.9   131   22.4 
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   13 40 33.3   +17 59 58    16.605   17.135  120.0    2.9   130   22.4 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   13 40 23.4   +17 59 01    16.623   17.141  119.2    3.0   130   22.4 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   13 40 13.7   +17 58 02    16.641   17.146  118.4    3.0   129   22.4 

    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.