C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today21 May 202515.715.122 AU15.163 AU04h22m-65°22'85.8°3.8°173°
Perihelion16 Jan 203113.610.960 AU10.834 AU12h09m-38°49'94.8°5.1°302°
Nearest approach5 Apr 203113.510.968 AU10.122 AU11h46m-35°39'146.3°2.9°31°
C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)- 2025-05-21
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 C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0041920
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9602760
            i (Inclination)                 : 95.44410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 189.95880
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.07880
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.60955
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.74757
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462882.89510

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 19
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-J08

            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 -1.98 + 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
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   04 22 37.0   -65 22 36    15.165   15.123   85.7    3.8   172   15.7 
2025-05-21 07:16 UT   04 22 50.9   -65 22 37    15.163   15.122   85.8    3.8   173   15.7 
2025-05-22 00:00 UT   04 23 22.8   -65 22 39    15.159   15.119   85.9    3.8   173   15.7 
2025-05-23 00:00 UT   04 24 08.8   -65 22 45    15.153   15.116   86.0    3.8   174   15.7 
2025-05-24 00:00 UT   04 24 54.9   -65 22 53    15.146   15.113   86.2    3.8   175   15.7 
2025-05-25 00:00 UT   04 25 41.1   -65 23 05    15.140   15.109   86.3    3.8   176   15.7 
2025-05-26 00:00 UT   04 26 27.4   -65 23 20    15.134   15.106   86.5    3.8   176   15.7 
2025-05-27 00:00 UT   04 27 13.8   -65 23 37    15.128   15.103   86.7    3.8   177   15.7 
2025-05-28 00:00 UT   04 28 00.2   -65 23 58    15.122   15.100   86.8    3.8   178   15.7 
2025-05-29 00:00 UT   04 28 46.8   -65 24 22    15.116   15.096   87.0    3.8   179   15.7 
2025-05-30 00:00 UT   04 29 33.4   -65 24 49    15.110   15.093   87.1    3.8   179   15.7 
2025-05-31 00:00 UT   04 30 20.1   -65 25 19    15.104   15.090   87.3    3.8   180   15.7 

































































    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.