C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Nov 2014	10.7	1.655 AU	1.113 AU	09h22m	+81°19'	103.6°	35.6°	283°
Perihelion	22 Nov 2014	10.6	1.639 AU	1.212 AU	18h04m	+73°05'	95.8°	36.8°	32°
Today	3 May 2026	75.2	23.905 AU	23.050 AU	15h42m	-45°42'	147.3°	1.3°	332°

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)                : 0.9411610
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6390350
    i (Inclination)                 : 90.23900
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 63.24540
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 47.26390
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 62.98673
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 47.26336
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456983.85260
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 147.02

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   15 42 38.6   -45 42 31    23.053   23.899  146.4    1.3   330   75.2 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   15 42 24.7   -45 42 31    23.051   23.903  147.0    1.3   331   75.2 
2026-05-03 13:18 UT   15 42 17.0   -45 42 31    23.050   23.905  147.3    1.3   332   75.2 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   15 42 10.8   -45 42 31    23.049   23.907  147.6    1.3   333   75.2 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   15 41 56.8   -45 42 29    23.047   23.910  148.2    1.3   334   75.2 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   15 41 42.7   -45 42 25    23.045   23.914  148.8    1.3   336   75.2 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   15 41 28.5   -45 42 20    23.043   23.917  149.3    1.2   338   75.2 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   15 41 14.4   -45 42 14    23.042   23.921  149.9    1.2   339   75.3 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   15 41 00.1   -45 42 07    23.041   23.924  150.4    1.2   341   75.3 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   15 40 45.9   -45 41 58    23.040   23.928  150.9    1.2   343   75.3 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   15 40 31.6   -45 41 48    23.040   23.931  151.3    1.2   345   75.3 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   15 40 17.2   -45 41 37    23.040   23.935  151.8    1.1   347   75.3 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   15 40 02.9   -45 41 24    23.040   23.938  152.2    1.1   349   75.3 

    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.