C/2012 V2 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Aug 2013	12.3	1.453 AU	2.199 AU	07h47m	-00°57'	32.6°	22.1°	243°
Nearest approach	20 Sep 2013	12.4	1.532 AU	2.068 AU	09h16m	-24°07'	45.0°	27.6°	241°
Today	20 Apr 2026	30.9	28.971 AU	28.437 AU	17h53m	-12°19'	121.2°	1.7°	264°

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. The light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (9.0 + 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/2012 V2 (LINEAR) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9968010
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4532240
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.70700
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 262.25430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 217.26800
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 278.35494
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -34.07539
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456521.54870
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 9682.28

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   17 54 05.6   -12 20 41    28.455   28.963  119.4    1.7   264   30.9 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   17 54 01.5   -12 20 13    28.445   28.967  120.4    1.7   264   30.9 
2026-04-20 20:09 UT   17 53 58.0   -12 19 49    28.437   28.971  121.2    1.7   264   30.9 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   17 53 57.4   -12 19 45    28.435   28.972  121.4    1.7   264   30.9 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   17 53 53.1   -12 19 17    28.425   28.976  122.3    1.7   263   30.9 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   17 53 48.6   -12 18 50    28.415   28.980  123.3    1.7   263   30.9 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   17 53 44.1   -12 18 22    28.406   28.985  124.3    1.6   263   30.9 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   17 53 39.4   -12 17 55    28.396   28.989  125.2    1.6   263   30.9 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   17 53 34.7   -12 17 28    28.387   28.993  126.2    1.6   262   30.9 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   17 53 29.8   -12 17 02    28.378   28.998  127.2    1.6   262   30.9 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   17 53 24.7   -12 16 35    28.369   29.002  128.1    1.6   262   30.9 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   17 53 19.6   -12 16 09    28.360   29.006  129.1    1.5   261   30.9 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   17 53 14.4   -12 15 43    28.352   29.011  130.1    1.5   261   30.9 

    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.