C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Nov 2018	9.9	0.430 AU	0.664 AU	15h50m	-01°49'	20.2°	127.7°	344°
Perihelion	4 Dec 2018	10.2	0.390 AU	0.771 AU	17h41m	-06°09'	21.5°	112.0°	40°
Today	16 Nov 2025	34.7	20.143 AU	20.965 AU	15h05m	-51°30'	33.0°	1.5°	189°

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 15.1 + 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 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0004740
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3897120
    i (Inclination)                 : 144.21520
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 129.68370
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 89.62140
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 40.15040
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 35.78390
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458457.06290

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPC114604

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   15 05 16.4   -51 29 21    20.955   20.136   33.2    1.5   187   34.7 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   15 05 33.2   -51 30 09    20.962   20.141   33.1    1.5   188   34.7 
2025-11-16 08:37 UT   15 05 39.2   -51 30 26    20.965   20.143   33.0    1.5   189   34.7 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   15 05 49.9   -51 30 57    20.969   20.147   32.9    1.5   190   34.7 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   15 06 06.6   -51 31 48    20.975   20.152   32.8    1.5   192   34.7 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   15 06 23.2   -51 32 39    20.981   20.157   32.7    1.5   193   34.7 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   15 06 39.9   -51 33 33    20.987   20.163   32.7    1.5   195   34.7 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   15 06 56.5   -51 34 27    20.993   20.168   32.6    1.5   197   34.7 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   15 07 13.0   -51 35 23    20.998   20.174   32.6    1.5   199   34.7 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   15 07 29.5   -51 36 20    21.003   20.179   32.6    1.5   200   34.7 
2025-11-24 00:00 UT   15 07 45.9   -51 37 19    21.008   20.184   32.6    1.5   202   34.7 
2025-11-25 00:00 UT   15 08 02.3   -51 38 18    21.013   20.190   32.7    1.5   204   34.7 
2025-11-26 00:00 UT   15 08 18.6   -51 39 20    21.017   20.195   32.8    1.5   206   34.7 

    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.