C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	2 Nov 2026	14.4	13.478 AU	13.634 AU	07h45m	-73°50'	78.9°	4.1°	284°
Perihelion	16 Jan 2031	12.6	10.959 AU	10.829 AU	12h09m	-38°50'	95.0°	5.1°	302°
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2031	12.4	10.967 AU	10.120 AU	11h46m	-35°40'	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.)

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -7.9 + 5 log[∆] + 14.8 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/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0040440
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.9592650
    i (Inclination)                 : 95.44560
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 190.00850
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 326.09580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 193.65792
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.73058
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462883.18900

    Epoch                           : 2026 Nov 01
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-TP0

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-11-01 00:00 UT   07 45 06.7   -73 45 08    13.637   13.482   79.0    4.1   283   14.4 
2026-11-02 00:00 UT   07 45 12.1   -73 48 58    13.635   13.479   78.9    4.1   284   14.4 
2026-11-02 08:35 UT   07 45 13.8   -73 50 21    13.634   13.478   78.9    4.1   284   14.4 
2026-11-03 00:00 UT   07 45 16.6   -73 52 48    13.633   13.476   78.9    4.1   285   14.4 
2026-11-04 00:00 UT   07 45 20.0   -73 56 36    13.631   13.474   78.8    4.1   286   14.4 
2026-11-05 00:00 UT   07 45 22.4   -74 00 23    13.629   13.471   78.7    4.1   287   14.4 
2026-11-06 00:00 UT   07 45 23.8   -74 04 08    13.627   13.468   78.7    4.1   288   14.4 
2026-11-07 00:00 UT   07 45 24.1   -74 07 53    13.625   13.465   78.6    4.1   289   14.4 
2026-11-08 00:00 UT   07 45 23.4   -74 11 36    13.623   13.462   78.6    4.1   290   14.4 
2026-11-09 00:00 UT   07 45 21.7   -74 15 17    13.621   13.459   78.5    4.1   291   14.4 
2026-11-10 00:00 UT   07 45 18.9   -74 18 57    13.619   13.456   78.5    4.1   292   14.4 
2026-11-11 00:00 UT   07 45 15.1   -74 22 35    13.617   13.454   78.5    4.1   293   14.4 
2026-11-12 00:00 UT   07 45 10.2   -74 26 12    13.615   13.451   78.4    4.1   294   14.4 

    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.