C/2015 V2 (Johnson)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jun 2017	8.0	1.651 AU	0.804 AU	14h44m	+17°02'	130.1°	28.1°	141°
Perihelion	10 Jun 2017	8.0	1.648 AU	0.813 AU	14h34m	+09°54'	128.5°	28.8°	130°
Today	22 Oct 2025	22.6	21.695 AU	20.883 AU	03h00m	-20°15'	143.8°	1.6°	328°

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 7.0 + 5 log[∆] + 6.8 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/2015 V2 (Johnson) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0016660
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6484820
    i (Inclination)                 : 49.79420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.01620
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 164.96460
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.17903
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.42727
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457915.38090

    Epoch                           : 2022 Jul 23
    Reference                       : MPC112390

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-21 00:00 UT   03 00 43.8   -20 14 32    20.878   21.688  143.6    1.6   326   22.6 
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   03 00 33.2   -20 15 28    20.882   21.693  143.8    1.6   328   22.6 
2025-10-22 06:34 UT   03 00 30.3   -20 15 43    20.883   21.695  143.8    1.6   328   22.6 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   03 00 22.6   -20 16 22    20.885   21.698  144.0    1.5   330   22.6 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   03 00 11.9   -20 17 15    20.889   21.703  144.1    1.5   331   22.6 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   03 00 01.2   -20 18 06    20.893   21.709  144.2    1.5   333   22.6 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   02 59 50.4   -20 18 56    20.898   21.714  144.3    1.5   335   22.6 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   02 59 39.5   -20 19 44    20.902   21.719  144.4    1.5   337   22.6 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   02 59 28.6   -20 20 30    20.907   21.724  144.4    1.5   338   22.6 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   02 59 17.7   -20 21 15    20.913   21.729  144.4    1.5   340   22.6 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   02 59 06.7   -20 21 58    20.918   21.734  144.4    1.5   342   22.6 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   02 58 55.7   -20 22 39    20.924   21.739  144.3    1.5   344   22.6 
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   02 58 44.7   -20 23 19    20.930   21.744  144.3    1.5   346   22.6 

    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.