C/2010 U3 (Boattini)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Jan 2019	17.9	8.444 AU	7.925 AU	11h53m	+73°26'	118.8°	5.9°	235°
Perihelion	28 Feb 2019	17.9	8.441 AU	8.003 AU	11h28m	+74°27'	113.1°	6.2°	191°
Today	23 Feb 2026	22.2	16.313 AU	15.937 AU	14h50m	-12°54'	110.7°	3.3°	286°

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 4.1 + 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/2010 U3 (Boattini) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0002970
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.4413570
    i (Inclination)                 : 55.52500
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.99500
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 88.11560
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 129.66849
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 55.47990
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458543.47120

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 22
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-J95

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   14 50 27.6   -12 54 15    15.958   16.305  108.9    3.3   286   22.2 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   14 50 24.1   -12 54 35    15.946   16.310  109.9    3.3   286   22.2 
2026-02-23 17:23 UT   14 50 21.3   -12 54 49    15.937   16.313  110.7    3.3   286   22.2 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   14 50 20.3   -12 54 54    15.934   16.314  110.9    3.2   286   22.2 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   14 50 16.2   -12 55 12    15.922   16.318  112.0    3.2   286   22.2 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   14 50 11.9   -12 55 29    15.910   16.322  113.0    3.2   286   22.2 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   14 50 07.4   -12 55 45    15.898   16.326  114.0    3.2   286   22.2 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   14 50 02.7   -12 55 60    15.887   16.331  115.0    3.2   286   22.2 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   14 49 57.6   -12 56 14    15.875   16.335  116.0    3.1   285   22.2 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   14 49 52.4   -12 56 27    15.864   16.339  117.1    3.1   285   22.2 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   14 49 46.9   -12 56 39    15.853   16.343  118.1    3.1   285   22.2 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   14 49 41.2   -12 56 50    15.842   16.347  119.1    3.0   285   22.2 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   14 49 35.3   -12 57 01    15.831   16.352  120.1    3.0   285   22.2 

    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.