C/2015 G2 (MASTER)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 May 2015	8.3	0.808 AU	0.467 AU	03h24m	-33°04'	51.5°	101.5°	179°
Perihelion	25 May 2015	9.0	0.777 AU	0.673 AU	06h32m	-13°58'	50.1°	88.3°	133°
Today	18 Jul 2025	32.2	25.659 AU	26.142 AU	03h17m	+45°29'	60.6°	2.0°	269°

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/2015 G2 (MASTER) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0006430
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.7771870
            i (Inclination)                 : 147.66290
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 110.24850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 257.61690
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 34.81490
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -31.49710
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457167.77290

            Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
            Reference                       : MPC109142

            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 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. (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]). The additional green curve shows the effect of forward scattering, occurring when the comet is between the earth and the sun, for a gas-to-dust light ratio δ90 of 0.30. (See Marcus 2007)

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
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   03 17 33.4   +45 28 38    26.149   25.654   59.8    2.0   270   32.2 
2025-07-18 22:48 UT   03 17 37.8   +45 29 44    26.142   25.659   60.6    2.0   269   32.2 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   03 17 38.0   +45 29 47    26.142   25.659   60.6    2.0   269   32.2 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   03 17 42.4   +45 30 56    26.133   25.664   61.4    2.0   269   32.2 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   03 17 46.7   +45 32 05    26.125   25.668   62.2    2.0   268   32.2 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   03 17 50.7   +45 33 13    26.117   25.673   63.0    2.0   268   32.2 
2025-07-23 00:00 UT   03 17 54.6   +45 34 22    26.108   25.678   63.9    2.0   267   32.2 
2025-07-24 00:00 UT   03 17 58.3   +45 35 31    26.100   25.683   64.7    2.0   267   32.2 
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   03 18 01.8   +45 36 39    26.091   25.687   65.5    2.1   266   32.2 
2025-07-26 00:00 UT   03 18 05.0   +45 37 48    26.082   25.692   66.3    2.1   266   32.2 
2025-07-27 00:00 UT   03 18 08.1   +45 38 56    26.073   25.697   67.2    2.1   265   32.2 
2025-07-28 00:00 UT   03 18 11.0   +45 40 05    26.064   25.702   68.0    2.1   265   32.2 

    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.