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°

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.