C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Nov 2013	4.9	1.015 AU	0.351 AU	11h28m	+38°58'	84.4°	75.5°	301°
Perihelion	24 Dec 2013	5.4	0.799 AU	0.894 AU	17h17m	+24°53'	50.1°	70.8°	343°
Today	27 Aug 2026	35.8	29.558 AU	29.158 AU	18h34m	-66°15'	112.3°	1.8°	63°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.1 + 5 log[∆] + 14.5 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

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 C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9981440
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.7990580
    i (Inclination)                 : 64.30790
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.07150
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 66.84810
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 116.46589
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.95155
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456651.30290
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8933.07

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194134

    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
2026-08-26 00:00 UT   18 34 31.7   -66 16 17    29.143   29.554  113.0    1.8    62   35.8 
2026-08-27 00:00 UT   18 34 21.2   -66 15 16    29.158   29.558  112.4    1.8    63   35.8 
2026-08-27 00:36 UT   18 34 20.9   -66 15 14    29.158   29.558  112.3    1.8    63   35.8 
2026-08-28 00:00 UT   18 34 10.9   -66 14 14    29.173   29.562  111.7    1.8    64   35.8 
2026-08-29 00:00 UT   18 34 01.0   -66 13 11    29.188   29.567  111.0    1.8    64   35.8 
2026-08-30 00:00 UT   18 33 51.4   -66 12 07    29.204   29.571  110.4    1.8    65   35.8 
2026-08-31 00:00 UT   18 33 42.1   -66 11 02    29.219   29.575  109.7    1.8    66   35.8 
2026-09-01 00:00 UT   18 33 33.2   -66 09 57    29.235   29.580  109.0    1.8    67   35.8 
2026-09-02 00:00 UT   18 33 24.5   -66 08 51    29.250   29.584  108.3    1.9    68   35.8 
2026-09-03 00:00 UT   18 33 16.1   -66 07 44    29.266   29.588  107.7    1.9    68   35.8 
2026-09-04 00:00 UT   18 33 08.1   -66 06 36    29.282   29.593  107.0    1.9    69   35.8 
2026-09-05 00:00 UT   18 33 00.4   -66 05 28    29.298   29.597  106.3    1.9    70   35.8 
2026-09-06 00:00 UT   18 32 53.0   -66 04 19    29.314   29.601  105.6    1.9    71   35.8 

    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.