A/2018 V3
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Aug 2019	13.6	1.365 AU	0.365 AU	21h44m	-29°57'	162.7°	12.7°	8°
Perihelion	10 Sep 2019	16.6	1.326 AU	0.883 AU	16h59m	-21°19'	88.8°	49.4°	96°
Today	5 May 2026	27.3	18.324 AU	18.007 AU	10h24m	+17°15'	106.8°	3.0°	114°

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)                : 0.9894540
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3260890
    i (Inclination)                 : 164.90110
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.84490
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 3.53960
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 305.42720
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.92147
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458736.94250
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1410.03

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   10 24 37.4   +17 15 47    17.975   18.316  108.3    3.0   114   27.3 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   10 24 31.8   +17 15 51    17.996   18.322  107.3    3.0   114   27.3 
2026-05-05 11:57 UT   10 24 29.0   +17 15 52    18.007   18.324  106.8    3.0   114   27.3 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   10 24 26.3   +17 15 53    18.017   18.327  106.3    3.0   113   27.3 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   10 24 21.1   +17 15 54    18.039   18.332  105.3    3.0   113   27.3 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   10 24 16.1   +17 15 54    18.060   18.337  104.4    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   10 24 11.3   +17 15 52    18.082   18.343  103.4    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   10 24 06.8   +17 15 50    18.104   18.348  102.4    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   10 24 02.4   +17 15 46    18.126   18.353  101.4    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   10 23 58.3   +17 15 40    18.148   18.358  100.5    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   10 23 54.4   +17 15 34    18.170   18.364   99.5    3.1   113   27.3 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   10 23 50.7   +17 15 26    18.192   18.369   98.5    3.1   112   27.3 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   10 23 47.2   +17 15 17    18.214   18.374   97.5    3.1   112   27.3 

    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.