C/2019 V1 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	30 Dec 2019	19.1	3.648 AU	2.701 AU	05h19m	+29°28'	162.0°	4.8°	106°
Perihelion	18 Jul 2020	19.2	3.094 AU	3.895 AU	08h21m	+53°37'	33.2°	10.3°	13°
Today	16 May 2026	29.1	15.684 AU	14.790 AU	17h35m	-21°55'	151.2°	1.8°	270°

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)                : 0.9991280
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0940750
    i (Inclination)                 : 61.93420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.15530
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 51.21230
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 113.50099
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 43.45721
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459048.63280
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 211359.38

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 15
    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
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   17 35 32.8   -21 55 21    14.795   15.675  149.5    1.9   270   29.1 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   17 35 19.1   -21 55 43    14.792   15.680  150.5    1.8   270   29.1 
2026-05-16 17:02 UT   17 35 09.3   -21 55 59    14.790   15.684  151.2    1.8   270   29.1 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   17 35 05.3   -21 56 06    14.789   15.686  151.5    1.8   270   29.1 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   17 34 51.4   -21 56 28    14.786   15.691  152.5    1.7   270   29.1 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   17 34 37.3   -21 56 51    14.784   15.696  153.5    1.6   270   29.1 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   17 34 23.1   -21 57 13    14.782   15.702  154.6    1.6   270   29.1 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   17 34 08.8   -21 57 36    14.780   15.707  155.6    1.5   270   29.1 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   17 33 54.3   -21 57 58    14.779   15.713  156.6    1.5   270   29.1 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   17 33 39.7   -21 58 20    14.777   15.718  157.6    1.4   269   29.1 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   17 33 25.0   -21 58 43    14.776   15.724  158.6    1.3   269   29.1 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   17 33 10.2   -21 59 05    14.776   15.729  159.6    1.3   269   29.1 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   17 32 55.3   -21 59 27    14.775   15.735  160.7    1.2   269   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.