C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Feb 2019	7.2	1.287 AU	0.411 AU	12h16m	-04°16'	129.6°	36.2°	295°
Nearest approach	11 Feb 2019	6.6	1.292 AU	0.306 AU	09h59m	+19°10'	172.9°	5.4°	225°
Today	27 Apr 2024	32.2	15.516 AU	16.313 AU	23h52m	+10°36'	36.5°	2.2°	261°

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 Y1 (Iwamoto) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9898720
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2871140
            i (Inclination)                 : 160.44410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 147.41240
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 357.86700
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 149.42246
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.71382
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458519.09210
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1432.65

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 27
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-A43

            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 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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.46 + 5 log[∆] + 15.68 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
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   23 52 47.1   +10 34 59    16.317   15.511   35.7    2.2   261   32.2 
2024-04-27 21:54 UT   23 52 55.5   +10 36 10    16.313   15.516   36.5    2.2   261   32.2 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   23 52 56.3   +10 36 17    16.313   15.516   36.5    2.2   261   32.2 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   23 53 05.3   +10 37 34    16.309   15.522   37.4    2.3   260   32.2 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   23 53 14.2   +10 38 51    16.305   15.528   38.3    2.3   260   32.2 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   23 53 22.9   +10 40 07    16.301   15.534   39.2    2.3   259   32.2 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   23 53 31.5   +10 41 23    16.296   15.539   40.1    2.4   259   32.2 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   23 53 40.0   +10 42 39    16.291   15.545   41.0    2.4   258   32.2 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   23 53 48.3   +10 43 54    16.286   15.551   41.9    2.5   258   32.2 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   23 53 56.4   +10 45 09    16.281   15.556   42.8    2.5   258   32.2 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   23 54 04.4   +10 46 24    16.276   15.562   43.7    2.6   257   32.2 
2024-05-07 00:00 UT   23 54 12.2   +10 47 37    16.270   15.568   44.6    2.6   257   32.2 

    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.