C/2018 W2 (Africano)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Sep 2019	10.2	1.465 AU	0.859 AU	02h47m	+52°27'	103.1°	42.1°	240°
Nearest approach	27 Sep 2019	9.1	1.498 AU	0.504 AU	23h56m	+14°02'	166.8°	8.8°	161°
Today	9 May 2025	29.5	16.566 AU	15.927 AU	12h09m	-58°42'	127.8°	2.8°	57°

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 W2 (Africano) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0009380
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4654730
            i (Inclination)                 : 116.54120
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 181.97430
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 158.23470
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 192.09000
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.37366
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458732.19160

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (9.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.47 + 5 log[∆] + 12.35 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   12 09 28.4   -58 43 03    15.925   16.565  127.9    2.8    56   29.5 
2025-05-09 05:43 UT   12 09 24.1   -58 42 18    15.927   16.566  127.8    2.8    57   29.5 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   12 09 10.4   -58 39 53    15.934   16.570  127.7    2.8    58   29.5 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   12 08 52.9   -58 36 41    15.942   16.576  127.5    2.8    59   29.5 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   12 08 35.7   -58 33 27    15.950   16.582  127.2    2.8    60   29.5 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   12 08 19.0   -58 30 12    15.959   16.587  127.0    2.8    61   29.5 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   12 08 02.6   -58 26 55    15.968   16.593  126.8    2.8    63   29.6 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   12 07 46.7   -58 23 38    15.977   16.599  126.5    2.8    64   29.6 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   12 07 31.2   -58 20 19    15.987   16.605  126.2    2.8    65   29.6 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   12 07 16.0   -58 16 59    15.996   16.610  125.9    2.8    67   29.6 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   12 07 01.3   -58 13 38    16.006   16.616  125.6    2.8    68   29.6 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   12 06 47.0   -58 10 16    16.016   16.622  125.3    2.8    69   29.6 

    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.