C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 16 Nov 2013 | 5.5 | 1.013 AU | 0.465 AU | 11h32m | +38°04' | 79.5° | 73.7° | 304° |
Perihelion | 18 Dec 2013 | 5.7 | 0.821 AU | 0.927 AU | 16h47m | +25°18' | 50.8° | 68.2° | 342° |
Today | 13 Jul 2025 | 35.2 | 27.758 AU | 27.031 AU | 18h42m | -66°20' | 134.8° | 1.5° | 16° |
C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)- 2025-07-13
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9980730
q (Perihelion distance) : 0.8211360
i (Inclination) : 63.96980
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.69710
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 67.28580
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 117.04962
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 55.98309
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2456645.39410
P (Orbital period in years) : 8796.30
Epoch : 2021 Feb 13
Reference : MPEC 2021-BE3
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 (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.07 + 5 log[∆] + 14.53 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
2025-07-13 00:00 UT 18 42 25.2 -66 20 44 27.028 27.756 134.9 1.5 15 35.2
2025-07-13 08:53 UT 18 42 17.7 -66 20 41 27.031 27.758 134.8 1.5 16 35.2
2025-07-14 00:00 UT 18 42 05.0 -66 20 37 27.036 27.760 134.6 1.5 17 35.2
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 18 41 44.8 -66 20 28 27.044 27.765 134.4 1.5 18 35.2
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 18 41 24.7 -66 20 18 27.052 27.769 134.1 1.5 19 35.2
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 18 41 04.7 -66 20 06 27.061 27.774 133.8 1.5 21 35.2
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 18 40 44.9 -66 19 52 27.069 27.778 133.4 1.5 22 35.2
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 18 40 25.1 -66 19 37 27.078 27.783 133.1 1.5 23 35.2
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 18 40 05.5 -66 19 20 27.087 27.787 132.7 1.5 25 35.2
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 18 39 46.0 -66 19 02 27.096 27.792 132.4 1.5 26 35.2
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 18 39 26.6 -66 18 41 27.106 27.796 132.0 1.6 27 35.2
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 18 39 07.4 -66 18 20 27.115 27.801 131.6 1.6 29 35.2
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.