2I/Borisov
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion8 Dec 201915.62.007 AU1.994 AU11h28m-18°19'76.4°28.5°290°
Nearest approach28 Dec 201915.72.053 AU1.937 AU11h59m-33°17'82.4°28.3°293°
Today5 Feb 202534.737.208 AU37.792 AU18h06m-53°50'52.8°1.2°243°
2I/Borisov- 2025-02-05
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.)

The orbital elements of 2I/Borisov are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 3.3566330
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0065480
            i (Inclination)                 : 44.05270
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.14800
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 209.12510
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 329.97095
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -19.78093
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458826.05480

            Epoch                           : 2019 Dec 23
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-L37

            Classification(s):              : Interstellar
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.11 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).


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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.


The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.


A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.



Ephemerides:
Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-02-05 00:00 UT   18 06 24.3   -53 50 44    37.788   37.199   52.4    1.2   242   34.7 
2025-02-05 11:57 UT   18 06 28.4   -53 50 59    37.792   37.208   52.8    1.2   243   34.7 
2025-02-06 00:00 UT   18 06 32.5   -53 51 14    37.796   37.218   53.2    1.2   243   34.7 
2025-02-07 00:00 UT   18 06 40.5   -53 51 44    37.804   37.237   54.0    1.2   244   34.7 
2025-02-08 00:00 UT   18 06 48.3   -53 52 15    37.812   37.256   54.7    1.2   245   34.7 
2025-02-09 00:00 UT   18 06 56.1   -53 52 47    37.820   37.275   55.5    1.3   245   34.7 
2025-02-10 00:00 UT   18 07 03.6   -53 53 19    37.828   37.294   56.3    1.3   246   34.7 
2025-02-11 00:00 UT   18 07 11.1   -53 53 52    37.835   37.313   57.1    1.3   247   34.7 
2025-02-12 00:00 UT   18 07 18.4   -53 54 25    37.843   37.332   57.9    1.3   247   34.7 
2025-02-13 00:00 UT   18 07 25.5   -53 54 59    37.850   37.351   58.7    1.3   248   34.7 
2025-02-14 00:00 UT   18 07 32.5   -53 55 33    37.857   37.370   59.5    1.3   249   34.7 
2025-02-15 00:00 UT   18 07 39.4   -53 56 07    37.864   37.389   60.3    1.3   249   34.7 

































































    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.