C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Oct 2019	11.7	3.146 AU	2.225 AU	01h12m	+36°22'	153.1°	8.2°	168°
Perihelion	12 Nov 2019	11.8	3.138 AU	2.331 AU	00h20m	+38°47'	138.1°	12.2°	109°
Today	11 Mar 2026	22.6	16.690 AU	15.915 AU	13h59m	+17°24'	140.2°	2.2°	254°

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 5.4 + 5 log[∆] + 9.1 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 N2 (ASASSN) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0021070
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1377190
    i (Inclination)                 : 77.45030
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 25.26620
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 24.63030
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 30.95526
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.00424
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458799.53750

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 11
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   13 59 28.8   +17 21 16    15.920   16.680  138.8    2.2   256   22.6 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   13 59 17.5   +17 22 48    15.917   16.685  139.5    2.2   255   22.6 
2026-03-11 20:06 UT   13 59 07.9   +17 24 04    15.915   16.690  140.2    2.2   254   22.6 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   13 59 06.0   +17 24 18    15.914   16.691  140.3    2.2   254   22.6 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   13 58 54.4   +17 25 48    15.912   16.696  141.0    2.1   253   22.6 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   13 58 42.6   +17 27 17    15.910   16.702  141.7    2.1   252   22.6 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   13 58 30.6   +17 28 46    15.908   16.707  142.4    2.1   250   22.6 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   13 58 18.5   +17 30 13    15.906   16.712  143.1    2.0   249   22.6 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   13 58 06.2   +17 31 40    15.905   16.718  143.7    2.0   248   22.6 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   13 57 53.8   +17 33 06    15.904   16.723  144.4    2.0   246   22.6 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   13 57 41.2   +17 34 31    15.903   16.728  145.0    2.0   245   22.6 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   13 57 28.4   +17 35 55    15.902   16.734  145.6    1.9   243   22.6 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   13 57 15.5   +17 37 18    15.902   16.739  146.2    1.9   242   22.6 

    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.