C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 3 Feb 2019 | 7.3 | 1.293 AU | 0.430 AU | 12h20m | -04°35' | 127.4° | 37.3° | 295° |
Nearest approach | 11 Feb 2019 | 6.6 | 1.298 AU | 0.313 AU | 09h59m | +19°48' | 172.3° | 5.9° | 225° |
Today | 9 May 2025 | 33.3 | 17.599 AU | 18.251 AU | 23h46m | +09°27' | 48.5° | 2.5° | 255° |
C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)- 2025-05-09
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/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9897680
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.2928930
i (Inclination) : 160.48020
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 147.34070
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 357.86590
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 149.35225
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -0.71293
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458517.94600
P (Orbital period in years) : 1420.38
Epoch : 2025 May 08
Reference : MPEC 2024-A43
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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.38 + 5 log[∆] + 15.73 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT 23 46 56.6 +09 27 44 18.253 17.598 48.3 2.5 255 33.3
2025-05-09 05:43 UT 23 46 58.2 +09 27 60 18.251 17.599 48.5 2.5 255 33.3
2025-05-10 00:00 UT 23 47 03.0 +09 28 48 18.246 17.603 49.2 2.5 255 33.3
2025-05-11 00:00 UT 23 47 09.2 +09 29 50 18.239 17.608 50.1 2.5 255 33.3
2025-05-12 00:00 UT 23 47 15.2 +09 30 52 18.231 17.614 51.0 2.6 254 33.3
2025-05-13 00:00 UT 23 47 21.1 +09 31 53 18.224 17.619 51.9 2.6 254 33.3
2025-05-14 00:00 UT 23 47 26.8 +09 32 54 18.216 17.624 52.8 2.6 254 33.3
2025-05-15 00:00 UT 23 47 32.3 +09 33 54 18.208 17.630 53.7 2.6 254 33.3
2025-05-16 00:00 UT 23 47 37.7 +09 34 53 18.200 17.635 54.7 2.7 253 33.3
2025-05-17 00:00 UT 23 47 42.9 +09 35 51 18.192 17.640 55.6 2.7 253 33.3
2025-05-18 00:00 UT 23 47 47.9 +09 36 49 18.183 17.646 56.5 2.7 253 33.3
2025-05-19 00:00 UT 23 47 52.8 +09 37 46 18.175 17.651 57.4 2.8 253 33.3
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.