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 td > | 14h44m | +17°02' | 130.1° | 28.1° | 141° |
Perihelion | 10 Jun 2017 | 8.0 | 1.648 AU | 0.813 AU td > | 14h34m | +09°54' | 128.5° | 28.8° | 130° |
Today | 22 Oct 2025 | 22.6 | 21.695 AU | 20.883 AU td > | 03h00m | -20°15' | 143.8° | 1.6° | 328° |
C/2015 V2 (Johnson)- 2025-10-22
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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.