C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	18 Oct 2019	11.7	3.141 AU	2.224 AU	01h08m	+36°45'	152.4°	8.5°	167°
Perihelion	11 Nov 2019	11.8	3.132 AU	2.334 AU	00h14m	+39°08'	137.1°	12.4°	108°
Today	9 May 2024	20.9	12.910 AU	12.218 AU	13h46m	+26°55'	131.5°	3.4°	154°

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)                : 1.0016600
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1319790
            i (Inclination)                 : 77.54390
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 24.49780
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 25.27670
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 30.31330
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.64151
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458799.35130

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            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 5.42 + 5 log[∆] + 9.08 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   13 46 34.5   +26 56 07    12.211   12.907  131.9    3.3   155   20.9 
2024-05-09 12:51 UT   13 46 24.0   +26 55 44    12.218   12.910  131.5    3.4   154   20.9 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   13 46 15.0   +26 55 23    12.224   12.913  131.2    3.4   154   20.9 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   13 45 55.8   +26 54 36    12.238   12.919  130.6    3.4   153   21.0 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   13 45 36.7   +26 53 45    12.252   12.925  129.9    3.4   152   21.0 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   13 45 17.8   +26 52 51    12.267   12.930  129.3    3.5   151   21.0 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   13 44 59.1   +26 51 53    12.281   12.936  128.6    3.5   150   21.0 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   13 44 40.6   +26 50 52    12.296   12.942  127.9    3.5   149   21.0 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   13 44 22.3   +26 49 48    12.311   12.948  127.2    3.6   148   21.0 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   13 44 04.2   +26 48 41    12.326   12.954  126.5    3.6   147   21.0 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   13 43 46.3   +26 47 31    12.342   12.960  125.8    3.6   146   21.0 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   13 43 28.7   +26 46 17    12.357   12.966  125.1    3.7   145   21.0 

    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.