C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Nov 2014	10.9	1.660 AU	1.176 AU	10h25m	+80°15'	99.6°	36.1°	301°
Perihelion	15 Nov 2014	10.8	1.651 AU	1.234 AU	16h51m	+75°41'	95.2°	36.6°	21°
Today	23 Jan 2026	75.0	23.545 AU	24.016 AU	15h51m	-44°16'	60.4°	2.1°	269°

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. (-.5 + 5 log[∆] + 50.0 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/2014 Q3 (Borisov) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9404540
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6506240
    i (Inclination)                 : 89.94110
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 63.15480
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 47.31050
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 63.21865
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 47.31047
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456977.25270
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 145.95

    Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
    Reference                       : MPC102952

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   15 51 00.9   -44 14 32    24.027   23.541   59.4    2.1   268   75.0 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   15 51 07.0   -44 15 51    24.017   23.545   60.3    2.1   269   75.0 
2026-01-23 03:33 UT   15 51 07.9   -44 16 03    24.016   23.545   60.4    2.1   269   75.0 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   15 51 12.9   -44 17 10    24.007   23.548   61.1    2.1   269   75.0 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   15 51 18.6   -44 18 29    23.997   23.552   62.0    2.1   270   75.0 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   15 51 24.1   -44 19 48    23.987   23.556   62.9    2.1   270   75.0 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   15 51 29.4   -44 21 07    23.977   23.559   63.8    2.1   271   75.0 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   15 51 34.5   -44 22 26    23.966   23.563   64.7    2.2   271   75.0 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   15 51 39.3   -44 23 45    23.956   23.566   65.6    2.2   272   75.0 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   15 51 44.0   -44 25 04    23.945   23.570   66.5    2.2   272   75.0 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   15 51 48.4   -44 26 23    23.934   23.573   67.4    2.2   273   75.0 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   15 51 52.6   -44 27 42    23.923   23.577   68.3    2.2   273   75.0 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   15 51 56.6   -44 29 00    23.912   23.581   69.2    2.2   274   75.0 

    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.