C/2024 V1 (Borisov)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach16 Feb 202519.62.377 AU1.588 AU 08h42m+56°34'133.3°17.6°154°
Perihelion4 Apr 202519.82.319 AU1.897 AU 08h03m+31°57'101.8°25.0°104°
Today16 Nov 202523.13.371 AU3.978 AU 12h15m-40°42'46.3°12.2°256°
C/2024 V1 (Borisov)- 2025-11-16
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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. (14.8 + 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/2024 V1 (Borisov) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9899940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3185730
    i (Inclination)                 : 54.62530
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 328.19390
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 168.67310
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 321.57928
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 9.21541
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460769.61860
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 3527.28

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 15
    Reference                       : MPC185660

    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
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   12 13 36.0   -40 13 16     3.978    3.360   45.5   12.1   255   23.1 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   12 14 41.1   -40 31 58     3.978    3.367   46.0   12.2   256   23.1 
2025-11-16 13:06 UT   12 15 16.5   -40 42 11     3.978    3.371   46.3   12.2   256   23.1 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   12 15 45.9   -40 50 40     3.979    3.375   46.5   12.3   257   23.1 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   12 16 50.3   -41 09 23     3.979    3.382   47.0   12.3   257   23.1 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   12 17 54.4   -41 28 06     3.979    3.390   47.4   12.4   258   23.1 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   12 18 58.1   -41 46 49     3.979    3.397   47.9   12.5   258   23.1 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   12 20 01.4   -42 05 32     3.979    3.404   48.4   12.5   259   23.1 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   12 21 04.3   -42 24 15     3.979    3.412   48.9   12.6   260   23.1 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   12 22 06.8   -42 42 58     3.978    3.419   49.4   12.7   260   23.1 
2025-11-24 00:00 UT   12 23 08.9   -43 01 41     3.978    3.427   49.9   12.7   261   23.1 
2025-11-25 00:00 UT   12 24 10.5   -43 20 24     3.978    3.434   50.4   12.8   261   23.2 
2025-11-26 00:00 UT   12 25 11.7   -43 39 07     3.978    3.441   50.9   12.9   262   23.2 



    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.