C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Jul 2018	9.0	1.310 AU	0.306 AU	20h24m	-37°13'	161.9°	13.9°	2°
Perihelion	3 Aug 2018	9.5	1.306 AU	0.397 AU	17h20m	-29°14'	130.2°	36.4°	89°
Today	24 Feb 2026	29.9	20.340 AU	19.385 AU	10h05m	+24°35'	164.2°	0.8°	160°

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 10.4 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9974900
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3062340
    i (Inclination)                 : 159.38870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 292.59000
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 354.74820
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 297.50734
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.84650
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458333.93300
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 11871.92

    Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-M21

    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
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   10 05 36.8   +24 34 21    19.377   20.334  164.8    0.7   163   29.9 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   10 05 23.1   +24 35 21    19.385   20.339  164.2    0.8   160   29.9 
2026-02-24 00:45 UT   10 05 22.7   +24 35 23    19.385   20.340  164.2    0.8   160   29.9 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   10 05 09.4   +24 36 20    19.393   20.345  163.5    0.8   157   29.9 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   10 04 55.7   +24 37 18    19.402   20.350  162.7    0.8   154   29.9 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   10 04 42.1   +24 38 15    19.410   20.355  162.0    0.9   152   29.9 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   10 04 28.6   +24 39 11    19.419   20.360  161.2    0.9   150   29.9 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   10 04 15.0   +24 40 05    19.429   20.365  160.4    0.9   147   29.9 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   10 04 01.6   +24 40 59    19.438   20.370  159.5    1.0   146   29.9 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   10 03 48.2   +24 41 52    19.448   20.376  158.7    1.0   144   29.9 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   10 03 34.8   +24 42 43    19.459   20.381  157.8    1.1   142   29.9 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   10 03 21.5   +24 43 34    19.469   20.386  156.9    1.1   141   29.9 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   10 03 08.3   +24 44 24    19.480   20.391  156.0    1.1   139   29.9 

    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.