C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Jan 2026	13.7	1.284 AU	2.091 AU	18h23m	-00°24'	26.2°	19.8°	327°
Nearest approach	30 Jan 2026	13.7	1.322 AU	2.035 AU	19h38m	+09°56'	32.9°	23.9°	327°
Today	4 Jun 2026	17.2	2.411 AU	3.077 AU	01h53m	+43°07'	41.4°	16.1°	286°

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 11.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9974960
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2842420
    i (Inclination)                 : 59.57940
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 234.63700
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 47.29840
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 263.39008
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 39.32540
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461050.61570
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 11614.99

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jun 03
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-H88

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   01 51 20.4   +43 01 45     3.070    2.398   41.0   16.1   287   17.2 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   01 53 10.6   +43 06 22     3.076    2.409   41.3   16.1   286   17.2 
2026-06-04 04:41 UT   01 53 31.9   +43 07 15     3.077    2.411   41.4   16.1   286   17.2 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   01 54 59.5   +43 10 54     3.082    2.420   41.7   16.2   285   17.3 
2026-06-06 00:00 UT   01 56 47.3   +43 15 23     3.087    2.430   42.0   16.2   285   17.3 
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   01 58 34.0   +43 19 47     3.093    2.441   42.4   16.3   284   17.3 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   02 00 19.4   +43 24 07     3.098    2.452   42.8   16.3   284   17.3 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   02 02 03.7   +43 28 24     3.103    2.463   43.1   16.4   283   17.4 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   02 03 46.8   +43 32 36     3.108    2.473   43.5   16.4   283   17.4 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   02 05 28.7   +43 36 45     3.113    2.484   43.9   16.5   282   17.4 
2026-06-12 00:00 UT   02 07 09.5   +43 40 50     3.118    2.495   44.3   16.5   282   17.4 
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   02 08 49.0   +43 44 51     3.122    2.505   44.7   16.6   281   17.4 
2026-06-14 00:00 UT   02 10 27.4   +43 48 49     3.127    2.516   45.2   16.6   281   17.5 

    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.