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	6 Mar 2026	33.5	16.659 AU	16.621 AU	16h45m	-38°27'	90.5°	3.4°	278°

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
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   16 45 15.0   -38 26 04    16.636   16.653   89.2    3.4   277   33.5 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   16 45 16.4   -38 27 02    16.625   16.658   90.2    3.4   278   33.5 
2026-03-06 07:15 UT   16 45 16.8   -38 27 19    16.621   16.659   90.5    3.4   278   33.5 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   16 45 17.5   -38 27 59    16.613   16.663   91.1    3.4   278   33.5 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   16 45 18.2   -38 28 56    16.602   16.668   92.1    3.4   278   33.5 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   16 45 18.7   -38 29 52    16.590   16.673   93.0    3.4   278   33.5 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   16 45 18.8   -38 30 48    16.579   16.678   94.0    3.4   279   33.5 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   16 45 18.7   -38 31 43    16.568   16.683   95.0    3.4   279   33.5 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   16 45 18.2   -38 32 38    16.556   16.688   95.9    3.4   279   33.5 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   16 45 17.4   -38 33 32    16.545   16.694   96.9    3.4   280   33.5 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   16 45 16.3   -38 34 26    16.534   16.699   97.8    3.4   280   33.5 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   16 45 14.8   -38 35 19    16.522   16.704   98.8    3.4   280   33.5 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   16 45 13.1   -38 36 11    16.511   16.709   99.8    3.4   280   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.