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	15 Feb 2026	26.9	17.904 AU	16.936 AU	10h40m	+16°08'	168.1°	0.7°	256°

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
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   10 40 29.0   +16 07 12    16.934   17.899  167.2    0.7   259   26.9 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   10 40 14.4   +16 08 37    16.936   17.904  168.1    0.7   256   26.9 
2026-02-15 00:40 UT   10 40 14.0   +16 08 40    16.936   17.904  168.1    0.7   256   26.9 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   10 39 59.7   +16 10 03    16.938   17.909  168.9    0.6   252   26.9 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   10 39 45.0   +16 11 28    16.941   17.915  169.7    0.6   248   26.9 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   10 39 30.2   +16 12 53    16.944   17.920  170.4    0.5   244   26.9 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   10 39 15.4   +16 14 18    16.948   17.925  171.1    0.5   239   26.9 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   10 39 00.6   +16 15 42    16.951   17.931  171.7    0.5   233   26.9 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   10 38 45.7   +16 17 06    16.955   17.936  172.2    0.4   226   26.9 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   10 38 30.8   +16 18 29    16.960   17.941  172.5    0.4   218   26.9 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   10 38 15.9   +16 19 52    16.964   17.947  172.8    0.4   210   26.9 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   10 38 01.0   +16 21 14    16.969   17.952  172.8    0.4   201   26.9 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   10 37 46.1   +16 22 36    16.974   17.957  172.7    0.4   193   26.9 

    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.