A/2020 B1
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Dec 2019	22.6	1.740 AU	0.812 AU	08h21m	+36°44'	151.4°	15.7°	250°
Nearest approach	13 Jan 2020	22.2	1.753 AU	0.780 AU	08h15m	+30°49'	167.3°	7.1°	226°
Today	17 Feb 2026	33.5	16.571 AU	16.814 AU	16h44m	-38°10'	74.1°	3.3°	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. 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)                : 0.9666770
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7401060
    i (Inclination)                 : 18.54440
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 309.78110
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 154.91730
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.85123
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.74851
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458845.33280
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 377.35

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2020-N08

    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
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   16 44 04.5   -38 08 58    16.826   16.565   73.0    3.3   273   33.5 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   16 44 11.1   -38 10 01    16.815   16.571   74.0    3.3   273   33.5 
2026-02-17 03:17 UT   16 44 12.0   -38 10 09    16.814   16.571   74.1    3.3   273   33.5 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   16 44 17.3   -38 11 03    16.805   16.576   74.9    3.3   273   33.5 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   16 44 23.3   -38 12 04    16.794   16.581   75.9    3.3   274   33.5 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   16 44 29.0   -38 13 06    16.783   16.586   76.8    3.3   274   33.5 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   16 44 34.3   -38 14 07    16.772   16.591   77.8    3.3   274   33.5 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   16 44 39.4   -38 15 09    16.761   16.596   78.7    3.4   274   33.5 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   16 44 44.2   -38 16 10    16.750   16.601   79.7    3.4   275   33.5 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   16 44 48.6   -38 17 10    16.738   16.607   80.6    3.4   275   33.5 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   16 44 52.8   -38 18 11    16.727   16.612   81.6    3.4   275   33.5 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   16 44 56.6   -38 19 11    16.716   16.617   82.5    3.4   276   33.5 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   16 45 00.2   -38 20 11    16.705   16.622   83.5    3.4   276   33.5 

    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.