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	14h44m	+17°02'	130.1°	28.1°	141°
Perihelion	10 Jun 2017	8.0	1.648 AU	0.813 AU	14h34m	+09°54'	128.5°	28.8°	130°
Today	9 May 2024	22.1	18.935 AU	19.733 AU	02h52m	-19°05'	36.8°	1.8°	186°

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.)

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)
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 6.75 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   02 52 35.2   -19 06 08    19.731   18.930   36.6    1.8   185   22.1 
2024-05-09 19:16 UT   02 52 45.3   -19 05 27    19.733   18.935   36.8    1.8   186   22.1 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   02 52 47.8   -19 05 18    19.733   18.936   36.9    1.8   186   22.1 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   02 53 00.4   -19 04 29    19.735   18.941   37.2    1.8   188   22.1 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   02 53 13.0   -19 03 43    19.736   18.946   37.6    1.9   189   22.1 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   02 53 25.6   -19 02 58    19.737   18.952   38.0    1.9   190   22.1 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   02 53 38.2   -19 02 15    19.738   18.957   38.4    1.9   192   22.1 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   02 53 50.7   -19 01 34    19.739   18.962   38.8    1.9   193   22.1 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   02 54 03.2   -19 00 54    19.740   18.968   39.2    1.9   194   22.1 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   02 54 15.6   -19 00 16    19.740   18.973   39.6    1.9   195   22.1 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   02 54 28.0   -18 59 41    19.740   18.979   40.1    2.0   197   22.1 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   02 54 40.4   -18 59 07    19.740   18.984   40.6    2.0   198   22.1 

    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.