C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	9 May 2024	15.6	16.398 AU	16.562 AU	03h28m	-61°21'	78.9°	3.5°	174°
Perihelion	17 Jan 2031	12.9	10.957 AU	10.807 AU	12h09m	-38°50'	96.2°	5.1°	303°
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2031	12.7	10.964 AU	10.118 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)                : 1.0032850
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9565870
            i (Inclination)                 : 95.43690
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 189.92050
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.12090
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.56069
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.70620
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462884.41460

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-JC2

            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 -2.68 + 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   03 28 16.4   -61 21 18    16.565   16.399   78.8    3.5   174   15.6 
2024-05-09 08:11 UT   03 28 28.2   -61 21 21    16.562   16.398   78.9    3.5   174   15.6 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   03 28 50.8   -61 21 27    16.557   16.395   79.1    3.5   175   15.6 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   03 29 25.3   -61 21 39    16.550   16.392   79.3    3.5   176   15.6 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   03 29 59.9   -61 21 55    16.542   16.389   79.5    3.5   177   15.6 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   03 30 34.5   -61 22 13    16.535   16.385   79.8    3.5   177   15.6 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   03 31 09.2   -61 22 34    16.527   16.382   80.0    3.5   178   15.6 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   03 31 44.0   -61 22 59    16.520   16.378   80.2    3.5   179   15.5 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   03 32 18.8   -61 23 26    16.512   16.375   80.5    3.5   180   15.5 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   03 32 53.7   -61 23 57    16.504   16.371   80.7    3.5   181   15.5 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   03 33 28.6   -61 24 30    16.497   16.368   81.0    3.5   181   15.5 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   03 34 03.5   -61 25 07    16.489   16.364   81.2    3.5   182   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.