C/2020 Q1 (Borisov)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	14 Aug 2020	14.1	1.319 AU	1.552 AU	05h36m	+28°25'	57.4°	40.3°	271°
Nearest approach	25 Sep 2020	12.9	1.454 AU	0.730 AU	23h47m	+67°48'	113.1°	39.4°	174°
Today	23 Apr 2024	28.0	11.939 AU	11.229 AU	17h14m	-06°02'	133.1°	3.5°	258°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2020 Q1 (Borisov) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9786210
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3186490
            i (Inclination)                 : 142.94460
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 52.39590
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 9.98370
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 44.39908
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 5.99659
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459076.23710
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 484.41

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 22
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-L66

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (14.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.97 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   17 14 16.4   -06 03 04    11.233   11.935  132.5    3.6   259   28.0 
2024-04-23 15:41 UT   17 14 05.1   -06 02 23    11.229   11.939  133.1    3.5   258   28.0 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   17 13 59.0   -06 02 02    11.227   11.941  133.4    3.5   258   28.0 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   17 13 41.4   -06 01 01    11.222   11.947  134.4    3.4   257   28.0 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   17 13 23.6   -06 00 01    11.217   11.954  135.3    3.4   257   28.0 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   17 13 05.4   -05 59 02    11.212   11.960  136.3    3.3   256   28.0 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   17 12 47.0   -05 58 03    11.207   11.966  137.2    3.3   256   28.0 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   17 12 28.4   -05 57 06    11.203   11.972  138.2    3.2   255   28.0 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   17 12 09.5   -05 56 09    11.198   11.979  139.1    3.2   254   28.0 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   17 11 50.4   -05 55 13    11.194   11.985  140.1    3.1   254   28.0 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   17 11 31.0   -05 54 18    11.191   11.991  141.0    3.0   253   28.0 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   17 11 11.4   -05 53 23    11.187   11.998  141.9    3.0   252   28.0 

    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.