C/2015 V2 (Johnson)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jun 2017	7.9	1.634 AU	0.779 AU	14h46m	+16°21'	131.0°	28.0°	141°
Perihelion	9 Jun 2017	7.9	1.633 AU	0.784 AU	14h38m	+10°45'	129.9°	28.5°	133°
Today	20 Apr 2026	23.0	22.589 AU	23.427 AU	02h55m	-17°11'	32.7°	1.4°	150°

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)                : 1.0008420
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6330310
    i (Inclination)                 : 49.75940
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.08330
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 164.68590
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.05168
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.63087
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457913.76640

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 19
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   02 55 22.4   -17 13 21    23.416   22.581   33.0    1.4   148   23.0 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   02 55 32.4   -17 12 11    23.423   22.586   32.8    1.4   149   23.0 
2026-04-20 15:03 UT   02 55 38.8   -17 11 28    23.427   22.589   32.7    1.4   150   23.0 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   02 55 42.5   -17 11 02    23.430   22.591   32.7    1.4   151   23.0 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   02 55 52.7   -17 09 55    23.436   22.596   32.5    1.4   153   23.0 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   02 56 02.9   -17 08 49    23.442   22.601   32.4    1.4   154   23.0 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   02 56 13.1   -17 07 44    23.448   22.606   32.4    1.4   156   23.0 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   02 56 23.3   -17 06 40    23.454   22.611   32.3    1.4   158   23.0 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   02 56 33.6   -17 05 38    23.459   22.616   32.3    1.4   160   23.0 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   02 56 43.9   -17 04 37    23.464   22.621   32.3    1.4   161   23.0 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   02 56 54.2   -17 03 37    23.469   22.626   32.3    1.4   163   23.0 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   02 57 04.6   -17 02 39    23.474   22.631   32.4    1.4   165   23.0 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   02 57 14.9   -17 01 42    23.478   22.636   32.5    1.4   167   23.0 

    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.