C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Today | 21 Mar 2025 | 15.8 | 15.323 AU | 15.512 AU | 03h43m | -66°45' | 77.3° | 3.6° | 123° |
Perihelion | 16 Jan 2031 | 13.6 | 10.960 AU | 10.833 AU | 12h09m | -38°49' | 94.9° | 5.1° | 302° |
Nearest approach | 5 Apr 2031 | 13.5 | 10.968 AU | 10.121 AU | 11h46m | -35°39' | 146.3° | 2.9° | 31° |
C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)- 2025-03-21
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0041510
q (Perihelion distance) : 10.9601710
i (Inclination) : 95.44330
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 189.95310
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 326.07980
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 193.60318
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -33.74663
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2462882.95170
Epoch : 2025 Mar 20
Reference : MPEC 2025-EG2
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 (2.50 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -1.97 + 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
2025-03-21 00:00 UT 03 43 16.9 -66 46 24 15.514 15.324 77.2 3.6 122 15.8
2025-03-21 10:51 UT 03 43 29.6 -66 45 16 15.512 15.323 77.3 3.6 123 15.8
2025-03-22 00:00 UT 03 43 45.1 -66 43 53 15.509 15.321 77.3 3.6 123 15.8
2025-03-23 00:00 UT 03 44 13.8 -66 41 23 15.505 15.318 77.4 3.6 124 15.8
2025-03-24 00:00 UT 03 44 43.0 -66 38 55 15.500 15.314 77.5 3.6 125 15.8
2025-03-25 00:00 UT 03 45 12.6 -66 36 29 15.495 15.311 77.6 3.6 126 15.8
2025-03-26 00:00 UT 03 45 42.7 -66 34 04 15.490 15.308 77.7 3.6 127 15.8
2025-03-27 00:00 UT 03 46 13.2 -66 31 42 15.485 15.304 77.8 3.7 128 15.8
2025-03-28 00:00 UT 03 46 44.1 -66 29 21 15.480 15.301 77.9 3.7 128 15.8
2025-03-29 00:00 UT 03 47 15.5 -66 27 02 15.475 15.298 78.0 3.7 129 15.8
2025-03-30 00:00 UT 03 47 47.3 -66 24 45 15.470 15.294 78.1 3.7 130 15.8
2025-03-31 00:00 UT 03 48 19.6 -66 22 30 15.464 15.291 78.2 3.7 131 15.8
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.