C/2015 V2 (Johnson)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jun 2017	7.9	1.632 AU	0.779 AU	14h45m	+16°37'	130.5°	28.2°	141°
Perihelion	9 Jun 2017	7.9	1.630 AU	0.785 AU	14h36m	+10°49'	129.4°	28.8°	132°
Today	18 Sep 2026	23.0	23.329 AU	22.710 AU	03h07m	-18°21'	127.0°	2.0°	282°

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)                : 1.0008150
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6304420
    i (Inclination)                 : 49.78410
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.04930
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 164.68000
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.01871
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.63961
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457914.02400

    Epoch                           : 2026 Sep 17
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-L50

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-17 00:00 UT   03 07 51.8   -18 20 02    22.716   23.322  126.0    2.0   281   23.0 
2026-09-18 00:00 UT   03 07 46.0   -18 21 26    22.711   23.327  126.8    2.0   282   23.0 
2026-09-18 09:26 UT   03 07 43.7   -18 21 58    22.710   23.329  127.0    2.0   282   23.0 
2026-09-19 00:00 UT   03 07 40.0   -18 22 48    22.707   23.332  127.5    2.0   282   23.0 
2026-09-20 00:00 UT   03 07 33.9   -18 24 11    22.702   23.337  128.2    1.9   283   23.0 
2026-09-21 00:00 UT   03 07 27.7   -18 25 33    22.698   23.342  128.9    1.9   284   23.0 
2026-09-22 00:00 UT   03 07 21.3   -18 26 54    22.694   23.347  129.5    1.9   285   23.0 
2026-09-23 00:00 UT   03 07 14.7   -18 28 15    22.690   23.352  130.2    1.9   286   23.0 
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   03 07 08.0   -18 29 35    22.687   23.357  130.9    1.9   287   23.0 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   03 07 01.2   -18 30 55    22.683   23.361  131.6    1.8   288   23.0 
2026-09-26 00:00 UT   03 06 54.2   -18 32 14    22.680   23.366  132.2    1.8   289   23.0 
2026-09-27 00:00 UT   03 06 47.1   -18 33 32    22.677   23.371  132.9    1.8   290   23.0 
2026-09-28 00:00 UT   03 06 39.9   -18 34 50    22.674   23.376  133.5    1.8   291   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.