C/2012 V2 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	11 Aug 2013	12.4	1.468 AU	2.254 AU	07h38m	-00°12'	30.1°	20.3°	238°
Nearest approach	15 Sep 2013	12.5	1.552 AU	2.120 AU	09h11m	-23°20'	43.4°	26.4°	238°
Today	21 Jan 2026	30.9	28.591 AU	29.394 AU	17h51m	-13°00'	34.7°	1.1°	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. 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)                : 0.9966990
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4682760
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.17230
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 262.17120
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 217.42410
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 278.70616
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -34.06351
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456515.60110
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 9380.87

    Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
    Reference                       : MPC 88695

    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
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   17 51 06.0   -13 00 38    29.401   28.584   33.3    1.1   287   30.9 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   17 51 13.3   -13 00 21    29.396   28.589   34.2    1.1   287   30.9 
2026-01-21 11:48 UT   17 51 16.8   -13 00 13    29.394   28.591   34.7    1.1   286   30.9 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   17 51 20.5   -13 00 04    29.391   28.593   35.1    1.1   286   30.9 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   17 51 27.6   -12 59 46    29.386   28.597   36.1    1.2   285   30.9 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   17 51 34.7   -12 59 28    29.381   28.602   37.0    1.2   285   30.9 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   17 51 41.7   -12 59 10    29.375   28.606   38.0    1.2   284   30.9 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   17 51 48.6   -12 58 51    29.369   28.610   38.9    1.2   284   30.9 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   17 51 55.4   -12 58 32    29.363   28.615   39.9    1.3   284   30.9 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   17 52 02.1   -12 58 13    29.357   28.619   40.8    1.3   283   30.9 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   17 52 08.7   -12 57 53    29.350   28.623   41.8    1.3   283   30.9 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   17 52 15.2   -12 57 33    29.343   28.628   42.7    1.3   282   30.9 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   17 52 21.6   -12 57 13    29.336   28.632   43.7    1.4   282   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.