C/2019 V1 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	30 Dec 2019	19.1	3.646 AU	2.698 AU	05h19m	+29°29'	162.0°	4.8°	106°
Perihelion	17 Jul 2020	19.2	3.093 AU	3.894 AU	08h20m	+53°38'	33.1°	10.3°	13°
Today	19 Feb 2026	29.1	15.208 AU	15.598 AU	17h40m	-21°20'	65.0°	3.4°	273°

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 11.3 + 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 V1 (Borisov) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9989880
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0930140
    i (Inclination)                 : 61.94490
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.14840
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 51.20340
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 113.47739
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 43.45583
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459048.34450
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 168967.06

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-N37

    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
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   17 40 08.9   -21 19 28    15.613   15.200   63.6    3.3   273   29.1 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   17 40 17.2   -21 19 58    15.603   15.205   64.6    3.4   273   29.1 
2026-02-19 10:10 UT   17 40 20.6   -21 20 10    15.598   15.208   65.0    3.4   273   29.1 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   17 40 25.2   -21 20 27    15.593   15.211   65.6    3.4   273   29.1 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   17 40 32.9   -21 20 56    15.582   15.216   66.5    3.4   273   29.1 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   17 40 40.4   -21 21 25    15.572   15.222   67.5    3.4   273   29.1 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   17 40 47.6   -21 21 54    15.562   15.227   68.5    3.5   273   29.1 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   17 40 54.6   -21 22 23    15.551   15.233   69.5    3.5   273   29.1 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   17 41 01.3   -21 22 51    15.541   15.239   70.5    3.5   273   29.1 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   17 41 07.8   -21 23 20    15.530   15.244   71.4    3.5   273   29.1 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   17 41 14.0   -21 23 48    15.519   15.250   72.4    3.5   272   29.1 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   17 41 19.9   -21 24 16    15.508   15.255   73.4    3.6   272   29.1 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   17 41 25.6   -21 24 44    15.497   15.261   74.4    3.6   272   29.1 

    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.