C/2022 B4
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Jan 2022	20.6	1.376 AU	0.440 AU	10h43m	+39°38'	147.3°	22.8°	236°
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2022	20.5	1.390 AU	0.419 AU	10h37m	+27°42'	161.4°	13.1°	223°
Today	19 May 2026	37.9	13.567 AU	12.844 AU	18h57m	-41°51'	134.0°	3.1°	283°

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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (21.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

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 C/2022 B4 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9967890
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3763640
    i (Inclination)                 : 20.06730
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.45210
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 153.10360
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 314.97640
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.92966
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.29090
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8874.41

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 19
    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
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   18 57 27.4   -41 49 24    12.853   13.556  132.4    3.2   282   37.9 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   18 57 13.2   -41 50 35    12.848   13.562  133.3    3.1   283   37.9 
2026-05-19 18:29 UT   18 57 02.0   -41 51 30    12.844   13.567  134.0    3.1   283   37.9 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   18 56 58.6   -41 51 46    12.843   13.568  134.2    3.1   284   37.9 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   18 56 43.7   -41 52 56    12.839   13.575  135.1    3.0   284   37.9 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   18 56 28.5   -41 54 05    12.834   13.581  136.0    3.0   285   37.9 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   18 56 13.0   -41 55 14    12.830   13.587  136.9    2.9   286   37.9 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   18 55 57.3   -41 56 21    12.826   13.593  137.7    2.9   286   37.9 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   18 55 41.2   -41 57 27    12.823   13.599  138.6    2.8   287   37.9 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   18 55 24.9   -41 58 32    12.819   13.606  139.5    2.8   288   37.9 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   18 55 08.2   -41 59 36    12.816   13.612  140.4    2.7   289   37.9 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   18 54 51.4   -42 00 40    12.813   13.618  141.2    2.7   290   37.9 
2026-05-29 00:00 UT   18 54 34.2   -42 01 42    12.810   13.624  142.1    2.6   291   37.9 

    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.