C/2019 B1 (Africano)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	9 Feb 2019	17.4	1.681 AU	0.919 AU	08h02m	+69°03'	123.8°	29.2°	154°
Perihelion	17 Mar 2019	18.2	1.611 AU	1.469 AU	04h55m	+27°19'	79.1°	37.3°	83°
Today	9 Mar 2026	34.5	18.742 AU	19.450 AU	21h59m	-44°09'	43.5°	2.1°	210°

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 15.3 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2019 B1 (Africano) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9885080
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6109030
    i (Inclination)                 : 123.53180
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 290.23760
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 174.86790
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 293.07785
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.27626
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458560.21390
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1659.63

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 09
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   21 59 07.7   -44 09 56    19.455   18.733   42.2    2.0   208   34.5 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   21 59 21.3   -44 09 31    19.452   18.738   42.9    2.1   209   34.5 
2026-03-09 20:52 UT   21 59 33.1   -44 09 11    19.450   18.742   43.5    2.1   210   34.5 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   21 59 34.8   -44 09 08    19.450   18.743   43.6    2.1   210   34.5 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   21 59 48.2   -44 08 47    19.447   18.748   44.2    2.1   211   34.5 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   22 00 01.6   -44 08 28    19.443   18.753   44.9    2.1   212   34.5 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   22 00 14.8   -44 08 10    19.440   18.759   45.6    2.2   213   34.5 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   22 00 27.9   -44 07 54    19.436   18.764   46.3    2.2   213   34.5 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   22 00 40.8   -44 07 40    19.432   18.769   47.0    2.2   214   34.5 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   22 00 53.7   -44 07 28    19.428   18.774   47.7    2.2   215   34.5 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   22 01 06.4   -44 07 18    19.424   18.779   48.4    2.3   216   34.5 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   22 01 19.1   -44 07 09    19.420   18.784   49.1    2.3   217   34.5 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   22 01 31.5   -44 07 02    19.415   18.790   49.9    2.3   218   34.5 

    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.