C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Nov 2018	9.9	0.429 AU	0.663 AU	15h51m	-01°57'	20.1°	127.8°	344°
Perihelion	4 Dec 2018	10.2	0.389 AU	0.772 AU	17h43m	-06°15'	21.5°	111.9°	40°
Today	22 Mar 2026	34.8	20.808 AU	20.384 AU	15h15m	-54°31'	113.9°	2.5°	307°

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 15.1 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0003670
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3887060
    i (Inclination)                 : 144.22400
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 129.72030
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 89.63410
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 40.17130
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 35.77516
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458457.39910

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   15 16 00.5   -54 29 45    20.397   20.798  112.4    2.5   305   34.8 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   15 15 47.4   -54 30 41    20.390   20.803  113.2    2.5   306   34.8 
2026-03-22 19:38 UT   15 15 36.6   -54 31 26    20.384   20.808  113.9    2.5   307   34.8 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   15 15 34.1   -54 31 36    20.383   20.809  114.0    2.5   307   34.8 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   15 15 20.5   -54 32 29    20.376   20.814  114.8    2.5   308   34.8 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   15 15 06.7   -54 33 21    20.369   20.819  115.6    2.5   308   34.8 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   15 14 52.6   -54 34 11    20.362   20.825  116.4    2.5   309   34.8 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   15 14 38.2   -54 34 59    20.355   20.830  117.1    2.4   310   34.8 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   15 14 23.6   -54 35 45    20.349   20.835  117.9    2.4   311   34.8 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   15 14 08.7   -54 36 29    20.343   20.841  118.7    2.4   311   34.8 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   15 13 53.5   -54 37 12    20.336   20.846  119.4    2.4   312   34.8 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   15 13 38.2   -54 37 53    20.330   20.851  120.2    2.4   313   34.8 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   15 13 22.6   -54 38 31    20.325   20.856  120.9    2.4   314   34.8 

    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.