C/2022 B4
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Jan 2022	20.6	1.376 AU	0.441 AU	10h45m	+39°29'	147.0°	22.9°	237°
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2022	20.5	1.390 AU	0.418 AU	10h39m	+27°25'	161.3°	13.2°	224°
Today	30 Jan 2026	37.8	12.880 AU	13.678 AU	18h47m	-40°03'	34.7°	2.5°	239°

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)                : 0.9966890
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3758450
    i (Inclination)                 : 20.06190
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.48530
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 153.05660
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 314.96360
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.94189
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.10570
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8470.63

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-GA9

    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
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   18 46 42.3   -40 02 47    13.680   12.871   33.6    2.4   238   37.8 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   18 47 05.0   -40 02 59    13.678   12.878   34.4    2.5   239   37.8 
2026-01-30 08:39 UT   18 47 13.1   -40 03 04    13.678   12.880   34.7    2.5   239   37.8 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   18 47 27.5   -40 03 13    13.676   12.884   35.2    2.5   239   37.8 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   18 47 49.8   -40 03 27    13.674   12.891   36.0    2.6   240   37.8 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   18 48 11.9   -40 03 42    13.672   12.897   36.8    2.6   241   37.8 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   18 48 33.8   -40 03 59    13.669   12.903   37.7    2.7   242   37.8 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   18 48 55.6   -40 04 17    13.666   12.910   38.5    2.7   242   37.8 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   18 49 17.1   -40 04 35    13.663   12.916   39.3    2.8   243   37.8 
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   18 49 38.4   -40 04 55    13.660   12.922   40.2    2.8   244   37.8 
2026-02-07 00:00 UT   18 49 59.4   -40 05 16    13.656   12.929   41.0    2.9   244   37.8 
2026-02-08 00:00 UT   18 50 20.3   -40 05 38    13.652   12.935   41.9    2.9   245   37.8 
2026-02-09 00:00 UT   18 50 40.9   -40 06 01    13.648   12.941   42.7    3.0   245   37.8 

    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.