C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	27 Jul 2024	15.6	16.125 AU	15.978 AU	04h11m	-64°04'	96.5°	3.6°	239°
Perihelion	17 Jan 2031	13.0	10.958 AU	10.815 AU	12h09m	-38°49'	95.8°	5.1°	303°
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2031	12.9	10.965 AU	10.119 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.)

The orbital elements of C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0035510
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9577140
            i (Inclination)                 : 95.43870
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 189.92800
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.10780
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.57118
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.71910
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462883.94910

            Epoch                           : 2024 Jul 26
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-O39

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (2.50 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -2.54 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-07-27 00:00 UT   04 10 58.3   -64 02 59    15.980   16.126   96.5    3.6   238   15.6 
2024-07-27 07:18 UT   04 11 05.8   -64 04 07    15.978   16.125   96.5    3.6   239   15.6 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   04 11 22.9   -64 06 43    15.974   16.123   96.6    3.6   239   15.6 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   04 11 47.2   -64 10 28    15.968   16.119   96.8    3.6   240   15.6 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   04 12 11.2   -64 14 15    15.962   16.116   96.9    3.6   241   15.5 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   04 12 34.7   -64 18 04    15.956   16.112   97.1    3.6   242   15.5 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   04 12 57.9   -64 21 55    15.950   16.109   97.2    3.6   243   15.5 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   04 13 20.8   -64 25 47    15.945   16.106   97.3    3.6   244   15.5 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   04 13 43.2   -64 29 41    15.939   16.102   97.5    3.6   245   15.5 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   04 14 05.2   -64 33 36    15.933   16.099   97.6    3.6   245   15.5 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   04 14 26.8   -64 37 33    15.928   16.095   97.7    3.6   246   15.5 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   04 14 48.1   -64 41 31    15.922   16.092   97.9    3.6   247   15.5 

    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.