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	20 Mar 2026	33.5	16.734 AU	16.458 AU	16h45m	-38°40'	104.4°	3.3°	282°

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
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   16 45 05.9   -38 38 43    16.478   16.724  102.6    3.3   281   33.5 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   16 45 02.9   -38 39 33    16.467   16.730  103.6    3.3   282   33.5 
2026-03-20 20:21 UT   16 45 00.1   -38 40 15    16.458   16.734  104.4    3.3   282   33.5 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   16 44 59.6   -38 40 23    16.456   16.735  104.6    3.3   282   33.5 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   16 44 56.0   -38 41 11    16.445   16.740  105.5    3.3   282   33.5 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   16 44 52.0   -38 41 59    16.435   16.745  106.5    3.3   283   33.5 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   16 44 47.8   -38 42 46    16.424   16.750  107.4    3.3   283   33.5 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   16 44 43.3   -38 43 33    16.413   16.755  108.4    3.2   283   33.5 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   16 44 38.4   -38 44 19    16.403   16.760  109.4    3.2   284   33.5 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   16 44 33.3   -38 45 04    16.392   16.765  110.3    3.2   284   33.5 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   16 44 27.9   -38 45 48    16.382   16.770  111.3    3.2   284   33.5 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   16 44 22.2   -38 46 31    16.372   16.776  112.2    3.2   285   33.5 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   16 44 16.1   -38 47 13    16.362   16.781  113.2    3.1   285   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.