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°28'	147.0°	23.0°	237°
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2022	20.5	1.390 AU	0.418 AU	10h39m	+27°25'	161.3°	13.2°	224°
Today	8 Nov 2025	37.5	12.348 AU	12.971 AU	18h13m	-40°43'	49.3°	3.5°	104°

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)                : 0.9966860
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3758380
    i (Inclination)                 : 20.06170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 340.48630
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 153.05540
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 314.96342
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.94218
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.10050
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8459.06

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 07
    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
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   18 12 55.0   -40 44 36    12.947   12.339   50.4    3.5   104   37.5 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   18 13 15.2   -40 43 28    12.965   12.346   49.5    3.5   104   37.5 
2025-11-08 07:01 UT   18 13 21.2   -40 43 08    12.971   12.348   49.3    3.5   104   37.5 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   18 13 35.7   -40 42 20    12.984   12.352   48.7    3.5   104   37.5 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   18 13 56.4   -40 41 13    13.002   12.359   47.8    3.4   105   37.5 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   18 14 17.3   -40 40 07    13.020   12.365   46.9    3.4   105   37.5 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   18 14 38.5   -40 39 02    13.037   12.372   46.1    3.3   106   37.5 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   18 14 59.9   -40 37 58    13.055   12.378   45.2    3.3   106   37.5 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   18 15 21.5   -40 36 54    13.072   12.384   44.4    3.2   107   37.5 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   18 15 43.3   -40 35 51    13.089   12.391   43.5    3.2   107   37.5 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   18 16 05.4   -40 34 50    13.106   12.397   42.7    3.1   108   37.5 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   18 16 27.6   -40 33 49    13.123   12.404   41.8    3.0   108   37.5 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   18 16 50.0   -40 32 49    13.139   12.410   41.0    3.0   109   37.5 

    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.