C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	10 Jul 2026	14.5	13.815 AU	13.762 AU	06h25m	-68°08'	90.9°	4.2°	192°
Perihelion	16 Jan 2031	12.4	10.960 AU	10.832 AU	12h09m	-38°50'	94.9°	5.1°	302°
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2031	12.2	10.967 AU	10.121 AU	11h46m	-35°40'	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 -9.6 + 5 log[∆] + 16.1 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)                : 1.0041560
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9597930
    i (Inclination)                 : 95.44610
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 190.00040
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.08780
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.65125
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.73850
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462882.98570

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 09
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-N12

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-07-09 00:00 UT   06 24 19.1   -68 07 12    13.765   13.819   91.0    4.2   191   14.5 
2026-07-10 00:00 UT   06 25 19.2   -68 08 04    13.763   13.816   90.9    4.2   192   14.5 
2026-07-10 11:48 UT   06 25 48.8   -68 08 31    13.762   13.815   90.9    4.2   192   14.5 
2026-07-11 00:00 UT   06 26 19.4   -68 08 59    13.761   13.813   90.9    4.2   192   14.5 
2026-07-12 00:00 UT   06 27 19.4   -68 09 58    13.759   13.810   90.8    4.2   193   14.5 
2026-07-13 00:00 UT   06 28 19.4   -68 10 58    13.757   13.807   90.7    4.2   194   14.5 
2026-07-14 00:00 UT   06 29 19.4   -68 12 02    13.755   13.804   90.7    4.2   194   14.5 
2026-07-15 00:00 UT   06 30 19.2   -68 13 09    13.753   13.801   90.6    4.2   195   14.5 
2026-07-16 00:00 UT   06 31 19.0   -68 14 19    13.751   13.798   90.6    4.2   196   14.5 
2026-07-17 00:00 UT   06 32 18.6   -68 15 31    13.749   13.795   90.5    4.2   197   14.5 
2026-07-18 00:00 UT   06 33 18.2   -68 16 46    13.747   13.792   90.4    4.2   197   14.5 
2026-07-19 00:00 UT   06 34 17.6   -68 18 04    13.745   13.789   90.4    4.2   198   14.5 
2026-07-20 00:00 UT   06 35 16.9   -68 19 25    13.744   13.786   90.3    4.2   199   14.5 

    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.