C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	18 Oct 2019	11.7	3.143 AU	2.226 AU	01h08m	+36°45'	152.4°	8.4°	167°
Perihelion	12 Nov 2019	11.8	3.134 AU	2.337 AU	00h14m	+39°07'	136.9°	12.5°	108°
Today	21 Dec 2024	21.7	14.222 AU	14.507 AU	14h03m	+18°50'	71.3°	3.8°	304°

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 N2 (ASASSN) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0019170
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1341770
            i (Inclination)                 : 77.52200
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 24.51190
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 25.30900
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 30.34584
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.67067
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458799.54670

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 20
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-YN2

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

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 (6.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.41 + 5 log[∆] + 9.10 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
2024-12-21 00:00 UT   14 03 50.5   +18 49 50    14.512   14.219   70.8    3.7   304   21.7 
2024-12-21 13:58 UT   14 03 55.2   +18 50 06    14.507   14.222   71.3    3.8   304   21.7 
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   14 03 58.6   +18 50 19    14.503   14.225   71.7    3.8   304   21.7 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   14 04 06.5   +18 50 51    14.495   14.231   72.5    3.8   303   21.7 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   14 04 14.2   +18 51 25    14.486   14.236   73.4    3.8   303   21.7 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   14 04 21.7   +18 52 01    14.478   14.242   74.2    3.8   302   21.7 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   14 04 28.9   +18 52 39    14.469   14.248   75.1    3.8   302   21.7 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   14 04 35.8   +18 53 20    14.460   14.253   75.9    3.8   301   21.7 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   14 04 42.5   +18 54 03    14.451   14.259   76.8    3.9   301   21.7 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   14 04 49.0   +18 54 48    14.442   14.265   77.7    3.9   300   21.7 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   14 04 55.2   +18 55 36    14.433   14.270   78.5    3.9   300   21.7 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   14 05 01.2   +18 56 26    14.424   14.276   79.4    3.9   299   21.7 

    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.