A/2018 V3
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Aug 2019	13.6	1.366 AU	0.366 AU	21h44m	-29°54'	162.7°	12.7°	8°
Perihelion	10 Sep 2019	16.6	1.328 AU	0.886 AU	17h00m	-21°20'	88.8°	49.3°	96°
Today	1 Mar 2026	26.9	17.979 AU	16.999 AU	10h36m	+16°28'	171.0°	0.5°	164°

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. The displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=14.40; G=.15).

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 A/2018 V3 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9895020
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3276140
    i (Inclination)                 : 164.90520
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.83680
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 3.55630
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 305.40291
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.92557
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458737.01730
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1422.16

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2025-A40

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   10 37 01.4   +16 26 37    16.992   17.973  171.6    0.5   171   26.9 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   10 36 46.5   +16 27 57    16.999   17.978  171.0    0.5   165   26.9 
2026-03-01 01:01 UT   10 36 45.9   +16 28 00    16.999   17.979  171.0    0.5   164   26.9 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   10 36 31.6   +16 29 15    17.006   17.984  170.4    0.5   160   26.9 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   10 36 16.8   +16 30 33    17.013   17.989  169.6    0.6   155   26.9 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   10 36 02.0   +16 31 50    17.020   17.994  168.8    0.6   151   26.9 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   10 35 47.2   +16 33 07    17.028   18.000  168.0    0.7   148   27.0 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   10 35 32.5   +16 34 22    17.036   18.005  167.1    0.7   145   27.0 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   10 35 17.8   +16 35 37    17.045   18.010  166.2    0.8   143   27.0 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   10 35 03.1   +16 36 51    17.053   18.016  165.3    0.8   140   27.0 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   10 34 48.6   +16 38 04    17.062   18.021  164.4    0.9   139   27.0 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   10 34 34.0   +16 39 17    17.072   18.026  163.4    0.9   137   27.0 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   10 34 19.5   +16 40 28    17.081   18.031  162.5    1.0   135   27.0 

    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.