C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Nov 2018	9.9	0.430 AU	0.664 AU	15h50m	-01°46'	20.2°	127.6°	344°
Perihelion	4 Dec 2018	10.2	0.390 AU	0.770 AU	17h40m	-06°07'	21.5°	112.1°	40°
Today	16 Sep 2025	34.5	19.814 AU	20.173 AU	14h50m	-51°30'	67.7°	2.7°	126°

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 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0004700
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3901710
            i (Inclination)                 : 144.21110
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 129.66000
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 89.61080
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 40.13979
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 35.78795
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458456.89290

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 15
            Reference                       : MPC114604

            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 (12.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 15.02 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]). The additional green curve shows the effect of forward scattering, occurring when the comet is between the earth and the sun, for a gas-to-dust light ratio δ90 of 0.30. (See Marcus 2007)

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
2025-09-16 00:00 UT   14 50 22.3   -51 30 52    20.160   19.810   68.3    2.7   126   34.5 
2025-09-16 17:52 UT   14 50 30.3   -51 30 14    20.173   19.814   67.7    2.7   126   34.5 
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   14 50 33.1   -51 30 01    20.178   19.816   67.5    2.7   126   34.5 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   14 50 44.0   -51 29 11    20.196   19.821   66.7    2.7   127   34.5 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   14 50 55.2   -51 28 23    20.214   19.827   66.0    2.7   128   34.5 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   14 51 06.6   -51 27 37    20.232   19.832   65.2    2.6   128   34.5 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   14 51 18.2   -51 26 52    20.249   19.838   64.4    2.6   129   34.5 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   14 51 30.0   -51 26 09    20.267   19.843   63.7    2.6   129   34.5 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   14 51 42.0   -51 25 28    20.284   19.849   62.9    2.6   130   34.5 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   14 51 54.2   -51 24 49    20.302   19.854   62.2    2.6   131   34.5 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   14 52 06.6   -51 24 11    20.319   19.859   61.4    2.5   131   34.5 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   14 52 19.1   -51 23 35    20.336   19.865   60.7    2.5   132   34.5 

    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.