A/2020 B1
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Dec 2019	22.6	1.741 AU	0.813 AU	08h21m	+36°43'	151.5°	15.6°	250°
Nearest approach	13 Jan 2020	22.2	1.754 AU	0.781 AU	08h15m	+30°50'	167.3°	7.1°	225°
Today	19 Apr 2026	33.5	16.887 AU	16.186 AU	16h41m	-38°58'	133.0°	2.5°	294°

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. The displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=21.00; G=.15).

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 A/2020 B1 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9667300
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7414220
    i (Inclination)                 : 18.55120
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 309.74110
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 154.97580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.86856
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.73425
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458845.41590
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 378.68

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    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
2026-04-18 00:00 UT   16 41 29.0   -38 57 38    16.199   16.877  131.2    2.6   293   33.5 
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   16 41 17.7   -38 58 01    16.192   16.882  132.1    2.5   294   33.5 
2026-04-19 21:03 UT   16 41 07.5   -38 58 19    16.186   16.887  133.0    2.5   294   33.5 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   16 41 06.1   -38 58 22    16.185   16.888  133.1    2.5   294   33.5 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   16 40 54.3   -38 58 41    16.179   16.893  134.0    2.5   295   33.5 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   16 40 42.2   -38 59 00    16.172   16.898  134.9    2.4   295   33.5 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   16 40 30.0   -38 59 18    16.166   16.903  135.9    2.4   296   33.4 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   16 40 17.5   -38 59 34    16.161   16.908  136.8    2.3   297   33.4 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   16 40 04.9   -38 59 49    16.155   16.913  137.7    2.3   297   33.4 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   16 39 52.0   -39 00 03    16.150   16.918  138.6    2.3   298   33.4 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   16 39 38.9   -39 00 15    16.145   16.923  139.5    2.2   299   33.4 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   16 39 25.7   -39 00 27    16.140   16.928  140.4    2.2   300   33.4 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   16 39 12.3   -39 00 37    16.135   16.933  141.3    2.1   300   33.4 

    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.