C/2018 V4 (Africano)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Dec 2018	19.5	3.284 AU	2.382 AU	04h36m	-02°42'	151.9°	8.1°	22°
Perihelion	2 Mar 2019	20.1	3.197 AU	3.225 AU	03h53m	+20°15'	79.5°	17.7°	78°
Today	26 Apr 2024	29.6	14.107 AU	13.513 AU	16h16m	+33°51'	124.5°	3.4°	217°

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 V4 (Africano) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9847170
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1971280
            i (Inclination)                 : 69.03680
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.25610
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 0.00600
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.25825
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.00560
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458544.63220
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 3025.71

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 25
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-M21

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

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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (12.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   16 16 44.3   +33 50 52    13.513   14.106  124.4    3.4   217   29.6 
2024-04-26 04:31 UT   16 16 41.1   +33 51 08    13.513   14.107  124.5    3.4   217   29.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   16 16 27.3   +33 52 14    13.515   14.112  124.6    3.4   216   29.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   16 16 10.2   +33 53 33    13.518   14.118  124.8    3.4   214   29.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   16 15 52.9   +33 54 48    13.521   14.123  125.0    3.3   213   29.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   16 15 35.4   +33 56 01    13.524   14.129  125.2    3.3   212   29.7 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   16 15 17.8   +33 57 10    13.527   14.134  125.3    3.3   211   29.7 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   16 15 00.0   +33 58 16    13.531   14.140  125.5    3.3   209   29.7 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   16 14 42.1   +33 59 18    13.535   14.145  125.6    3.3   208   29.7 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   16 14 24.1   +34 00 17    13.539   14.151  125.7    3.3   207   29.7 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   16 14 05.9   +34 01 13    13.543   14.157  125.8    3.3   206   29.7 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   16 13 47.6   +34 02 05    13.547   14.162  125.9    3.3   204   29.7 

    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.