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	9 Jan 2026	75.0	23.495 AU	24.138 AU	15h49m	-43°57'	48.3°	1.8°	261°

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
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   15 49 15.4   -43 56 28    24.147   23.491   47.3    1.8   260   75.0 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   15 49 24.1   -43 57 44    24.139   23.495   48.1    1.8   261   75.0 
2026-01-09 03:32 UT   15 49 25.4   -43 57 55    24.138   23.495   48.3    1.8   261   75.0 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   15 49 32.6   -43 58 60    24.132   23.498   49.0    1.8   261   75.0 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   15 49 41.0   -44 00 16    24.124   23.502   49.8    1.8   262   75.0 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   15 49 49.1   -44 01 33    24.116   23.506   50.7    1.9   263   75.0 
2026-01-13 00:00 UT   15 49 57.2   -44 02 50    24.108   23.509   51.5    1.9   263   75.0 
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   15 50 05.0   -44 04 07    24.100   23.513   52.4    1.9   264   75.0 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   15 50 12.6   -44 05 25    24.091   23.516   53.2    1.9   265   75.0 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   15 50 20.1   -44 06 42    24.083   23.520   54.1    1.9   265   75.0 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   15 50 27.4   -44 08 00    24.074   23.523   55.0    2.0   266   75.0 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   15 50 34.5   -44 09 18    24.065   23.527   55.9    2.0   266   75.0 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   15 50 41.4   -44 10 37    24.055   23.531   56.7    2.0   267   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.