C/2015 V2 (Johnson)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jun 2017	7.9	1.637 AU	0.778 AU	14h47m	+16°03'	131.5°	27.7°	142°
Perihelion	8 Jun 2017	7.9	1.635 AU	0.783 AU	14h39m	+10°38'	130.5°	28.2°	133°
Today	7 Feb 2026	22.8	22.228 AU	22.428 AU	02h47m	-19°07'	77.0°	2.5°	78°

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)                : 1.0007860
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6354760
    i (Inclination)                 : 49.79150
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.04170
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 164.74250
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.05467
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.59389
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457913.46460

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 06
    Reference                       : MPC112390

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   02 47 43.8   -19 10 18    22.402   22.221   78.1    2.5    77   22.8 
2026-02-07 00:00 UT   02 47 44.9   -19 08 33    22.421   22.226   77.3    2.5    78   22.8 
2026-02-07 07:57 UT   02 47 45.3   -19 07 57    22.428   22.228   77.0    2.5    78   22.8 
2026-02-08 00:00 UT   02 47 46.1   -19 06 46    22.440   22.231   76.5    2.5    78   22.8 
2026-02-09 00:00 UT   02 47 47.6   -19 05 00    22.459   22.236   75.7    2.5    79   22.8 
2026-02-10 00:00 UT   02 47 49.2   -19 03 13    22.478   22.241   74.8    2.5    80   22.9 
2026-02-11 00:00 UT   02 47 51.0   -19 01 26    22.497   22.246   74.0    2.4    80   22.9 
2026-02-12 00:00 UT   02 47 53.0   -18 59 39    22.515   22.251   73.2    2.4    81   22.9 
2026-02-13 00:00 UT   02 47 55.2   -18 57 51    22.534   22.256   72.4    2.4    81   22.9 
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   02 47 57.5   -18 56 03    22.553   22.261   71.6    2.4    82   22.9 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   02 48 00.1   -18 54 15    22.571   22.266   70.8    2.4    83   22.9 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   02 48 02.8   -18 52 27    22.589   22.271   70.0    2.4    83   22.9 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   02 48 05.6   -18 50 38    22.608   22.276   69.2    2.4    84   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.