C/2015 V2 (Johnson)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jun 2017	7.9	1.635 AU	0.779 AU	14h46m	+16°17'	131.1°	27.9°	141°
Perihelion	9 Jun 2017	7.9	1.634 AU	0.784 AU	14h38m	+10°43'	130.1°	28.4°	133°
Today	9 Mar 2026	22.9	22.380 AU	22.955 AU	02h49m	-18°14'	53.5°	2.0°	98°

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)                : 1.0008560
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6339060
    i (Inclination)                 : 49.75290
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.09230
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 164.69010
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.06219
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.62658
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457913.71030

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 08
    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
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   02 49 30.5   -18 16 55    22.933   22.373   54.5    2.1    97   22.9 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   02 49 36.6   -18 15 10    22.949   22.378   53.8    2.1    98   22.9 
2026-03-09 09:19 UT   02 49 39.0   -18 14 29    22.955   22.380   53.5    2.0    98   22.9 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   02 49 42.9   -18 13 25    22.964   22.383   53.1    2.0    98   22.9 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   02 49 49.2   -18 11 40    22.979   22.388   52.4    2.0    99   22.9 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   02 49 55.7   -18 09 56    22.995   22.393   51.7    2.0   100   22.9 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   02 50 02.4   -18 08 13    23.009   22.398   51.0    2.0   101   22.9 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   02 50 09.1   -18 06 30    23.024   22.403   50.3    2.0   102   22.9 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   02 50 16.1   -18 04 47    23.039   22.408   49.6    1.9   103   22.9 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   02 50 23.1   -18 03 05    23.053   22.413   48.9    1.9   104   22.9 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   02 50 30.3   -18 01 24    23.067   22.418   48.3    1.9   105   22.9 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   02 50 37.5   -17 59 43    23.081   22.423   47.6    1.9   106   22.9 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   02 50 44.9   -17 58 03    23.095   22.428   46.9    1.9   106   22.9 

    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.