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	10h44m	+39°36'	147.2°	22.8°	236°
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2022	20.5	1.390 AU	0.418 AU	10h38m	+27°37'	161.3°	13.1°	223°
Today	25 Mar 2026	37.8	13.219 AU	13.315 AU	19h01m	-40°40'	82.3°	4.3°	261°

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)                : 0.9967530
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3760990
    i (Inclination)                 : 20.06530
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.46380
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 153.08580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 314.97069
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.93431
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.22880
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8724.71

    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
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   19 00 56.5   -40 39 05    13.325   13.213   81.3    4.3   261   37.8 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   19 01 03.3   -40 40 12    13.315   13.219   82.3    4.3   261   37.8 
2026-03-25 01:58 UT   19 01 03.9   -40 40 18    13.315   13.219   82.3    4.3   261   37.8 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   19 01 09.7   -40 41 20    13.306   13.225   83.2    4.3   261   37.8 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   19 01 15.8   -40 42 28    13.296   13.231   84.1    4.3   262   37.8 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   19 01 21.5   -40 43 38    13.286   13.238   85.0    4.3   262   37.8 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   19 01 26.7   -40 44 48    13.276   13.244   86.0    4.3   262   37.8 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   19 01 31.6   -40 45 58    13.266   13.250   86.9    4.3   263   37.8 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   19 01 36.1   -40 47 10    13.256   13.256   87.8    4.3   263   37.8 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   19 01 40.2   -40 48 22    13.246   13.263   88.8    4.3   263   37.8 
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   19 01 43.9   -40 49 34    13.236   13.269   89.7    4.3   264   37.8 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   19 01 47.2   -40 50 48    13.226   13.275   90.6    4.3   264   37.8 
2026-04-04 00:00 UT   19 01 50.1   -40 52 02    13.216   13.282   91.5    4.3   264   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.