C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	17 Mar 2026	15.1	14.164 AU	14.233 AU	04h49m	-71°15'	84.1°	4.0°	103°
Perihelion	16 Jan 2031	13.4	10.960 AU	10.837 AU	12h09m	-38°49'	94.7°	5.1°	302°
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2031	13.3	10.968 AU	10.122 AU	11h46m	-35°39'	146.3°	2.9°	31°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -2.2 + 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/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0043120
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9604150
    i (Inclination)                 : 95.44630
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 189.98960
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.07810
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.64192
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.74812
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462882.72520

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-EC7

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   04 49 00.0   -71 19 18    14.239   14.168   83.9    4.0   102   15.1 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   04 49 24.5   -71 15 49    14.234   14.165   84.0    4.0   103   15.1 
2026-03-17 04:33 UT   04 49 29.2   -71 15 10    14.233   14.164   84.1    4.0   103   15.1 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   04 49 49.7   -71 12 21    14.229   14.162   84.2    4.0   104   15.1 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   04 50 15.6   -71 08 54    14.224   14.159   84.3    4.0   105   15.1 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   04 50 42.3   -71 05 27    14.219   14.156   84.4    4.0   105   15.1 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   04 51 09.7   -71 02 01    14.214   14.153   84.5    4.0   106   15.1 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   04 51 37.8   -70 58 35    14.209   14.150   84.6    4.0   107   15.1 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   04 52 06.6   -70 55 11    14.204   14.146   84.7    4.0   108   15.1 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   04 52 36.0   -70 51 48    14.199   14.143   84.8    4.0   109   15.1 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   04 53 06.2   -70 48 25    14.194   14.140   84.9    4.0   110   15.1 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   04 53 37.0   -70 45 04    14.189   14.137   85.0    4.0   111   15.1 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   04 54 08.5   -70 41 44    14.184   14.134   85.2    4.0   112   15.1 

    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.