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	3 May 2026	33.4	16.958 AU	16.116 AU	16h38m	-39°01'	145.7°	1.9°	304°

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
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   16 38 30.9   -39 00 59    16.122   16.948  144.0    2.0   303   33.4 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   16 38 16.8   -39 01 04    16.119   16.954  144.9    2.0   304   33.4 
2026-05-03 21:09 UT   16 38 04.2   -39 01 07    16.116   16.958  145.7    1.9   304   33.4 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   16 38 02.5   -39 01 08    16.115   16.959  145.8    1.9   305   33.4 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   16 37 48.1   -39 01 10    16.112   16.964  146.6    1.9   306   33.4 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   16 37 33.5   -39 01 11    16.109   16.969  147.5    1.8   307   33.4 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   16 37 18.7   -39 01 11    16.106   16.974  148.3    1.8   308   33.4 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   16 37 03.9   -39 01 09    16.104   16.979  149.2    1.7   309   33.4 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   16 36 48.9   -39 01 07    16.102   16.984  150.0    1.7   310   33.4 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   16 36 33.8   -39 01 02    16.100   16.989  150.8    1.7   311   33.4 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   16 36 18.5   -39 00 57    16.098   16.994  151.6    1.6   313   33.4 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   16 36 03.1   -39 00 50    16.097   16.999  152.4    1.6   314   33.4 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   16 35 47.7   -39 00 42    16.096   17.004  153.2    1.5   315   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.