C/2017 E1 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Mar 2017	11.6	0.994 AU	1.409 AU	20h41m	-09°16'	44.9°	44.9°	264°
Perihelion	5 Apr 2017	11.1	0.919 AU	1.481 AU	22h32m	-04°46'	37.6°	41.6°	254°
Today	14 May 2026	43.6	23.826 AU	24.593 AU	06h07m	+12°38'	39.8°	1.6°	104°

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 10.9 + 5 log[∆] + 18.7 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/2017 E1 (Borisov) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0029780
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9194840
    i (Inclination)                 : 14.47960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 143.04600
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 152.46940
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 116.26640
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 6.63661
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457848.64610

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 13
    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
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   06 07 03.8   +12 37 53    24.571   23.819   41.1    1.6   103   43.6 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   06 07 11.9   +12 38 10    24.586   23.824   40.2    1.6   104   43.6 
2026-05-14 09:40 UT   06 07 15.2   +12 38 17    24.593   23.826   39.8    1.6   104   43.6 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   06 07 20.1   +12 38 26    24.602   23.829   39.3    1.5   104   43.6 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   06 07 28.4   +12 38 42    24.617   23.834   38.4    1.5   105   43.6 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   06 07 36.8   +12 38 58    24.632   23.839   37.5    1.5   105   43.6 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   06 07 45.3   +12 39 13    24.647   23.844   36.6    1.4   106   43.6 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   06 07 53.9   +12 39 28    24.662   23.849   35.7    1.4   106   43.6 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   06 08 02.5   +12 39 42    24.676   23.854   34.9    1.4   107   43.6 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   06 08 11.2   +12 39 56    24.691   23.859   34.0    1.4   107   43.6 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   06 08 20.0   +12 40 09    24.704   23.864   33.1    1.3   108   43.6 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   06 08 28.9   +12 40 22    24.718   23.869   32.2    1.3   108   43.6 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   06 08 37.9   +12 40 35    24.732   23.874   31.4    1.3   109   43.6 

    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.