C/2015 V2 (Johnson) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 4 Jun 2017 | 8.0 | 1.651 AU | 0.804 AU | 14h44m | +17°02' | 130.1° | 28.1° | 141° |
Perihelion | 10 Jun 2017 | 8.0 | 1.648 AU | 0.813 AU | 14h34m | +09°54' | 128.5° | 28.8° | 130° |
Today | 26 Apr 2025 | 22.6 | 20.781 AU | 21.617 AU | 02h53m | -18°06' | 33.0° | 1.5° | 162° |
C/2015 V2 (Johnson)- 2025-04-26
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/2015 V2 (Johnson) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0016660
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.6484820
i (Inclination) : 49.79420
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 70.01620
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 164.96460
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 60.17903
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 11.42727
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2457915.38090
Epoch : 2022 Jul 23
Reference : MPC112390
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 (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 6.75 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
2025-04-26 00:00 UT 02 53 30.6 -18 06 43 21.616 20.781 33.0 1.5 162 22.6
2025-04-26 01:01 UT 02 53 31.1 -18 06 40 21.617 20.781 33.0 1.5 162 22.6
2025-04-27 00:00 UT 02 53 41.9 -18 05 37 21.621 20.786 33.1 1.5 164 22.6
2025-04-28 00:00 UT 02 53 53.3 -18 04 32 21.626 20.791 33.1 1.5 165 22.6
2025-04-29 00:00 UT 02 54 04.6 -18 03 29 21.631 20.796 33.2 1.5 167 22.6
2025-04-30 00:00 UT 02 54 16.0 -18 02 27 21.635 20.801 33.3 1.5 169 22.6
2025-05-01 00:00 UT 02 54 27.4 -18 01 27 21.639 20.806 33.4 1.5 170 22.6
2025-05-02 00:00 UT 02 54 38.8 -18 00 28 21.643 20.812 33.6 1.5 172 22.6
2025-05-03 00:00 UT 02 54 50.2 -17 59 31 21.646 20.817 33.8 1.5 174 22.6
2025-05-04 00:00 UT 02 55 01.6 -17 58 35 21.650 20.822 34.0 1.5 175 22.6
2025-05-05 00:00 UT 02 55 13.1 -17 57 41 21.653 20.827 34.2 1.6 177 22.6
2025-05-06 00:00 UT 02 55 24.5 -17 56 48 21.656 20.832 34.4 1.6 178 22.6
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.