Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)
Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is in the constellation of
Ara,
at a distance of
Finder Charts
View interactive star map
High precision deep sky finder chart, 60 arcmin wide, showing where Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is right now. Click on the image to see a more detailed fullscreen tracker view.
Also check out Where is Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)?, a page that provides all the information needed to find Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) in the sky and additional links to sky charts.
Celestial Coordinates
Apparent
J2000
Additional Information
The observed values of Magnitude, Coma Diameter and Tail Length are derived from the most recent observation recorded at the Comet Observers Database. The value of Predicted Magnitude comes from the JPL Horizons ephemerides service and, in the case of comets, might be inaccurate given the highly dynamic and unpredictable behavior of these objects. When available, please refer to the Observed Magnitude value and consider the Predicted Magnitude as a directional indication. We acknowledge with thanks the comet observations from the COBS Comet Observation Database contributed by observers worldwide and used in this table to report recent comet observations.
Rise and Set Times
Today's rise, transit and set times of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) from Greenwich, UK (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):
Today Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is not visible from Greenwich, UK
- 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is below the horizon from Greenwich, UK.
- Given its current magnitude, 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is visible only through long exposure photography.
- Go to interactive sky chart
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Distance from Earth
The distance of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) from Earth is currently
The following chart shows the distance of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) from Earth as a function of time. In the chart the distance data is measured in Astronomical Units and sampled with an interval of 1 day.
The value of the reported distance might be somewhat inaccurate around the times of closest approach for objects passing extremely close to Earth. The value of the distance of 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) from Earth is also available as a real time updated value in the Live Position and Data Tracker.
Closest Approach
Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2099, the closest approach of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) to Earth happens on Sat Dec 28 2019 at a distance of 1.936739 Astronomical Units, or 289,732,033 kilometers:
NOTE: values for the closest approach are computed with a sampling interval of 1 day.
Light Curve
The following chart is the predicted light curve (visual magnitude as a function of time) of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4), according to the most recent ephemerides data. Magnitude data is sampled with a 2 days interval and there might be inaccuracies for objects changing brightness very rapidly during the course of a few days. For comets there could be large discrepancies between the observed and predicted brightness because of their highly dynamic behaviour.
Orbital Elements
The following table lists the orbital elements of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) at epoch 04 January 2020 00:00 UTC (JD: 2458853.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database
| Element | Symbol | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit eccentricity | e | 3.35647578 |
| Orbit inclination | i | 44.05264248° |
| Perihelion distance | q | 2.00652088 AU 300,171,252 km |
| Aphelion distance | Q | n.a. |
| Semi-major axis | a | n.a. |
| Orbital period | period | n.a. |
| Date of perihelion transit | Tp | 2019-Dec-08 13:16:05 2,458,826.0528 JD |
| Argument of perihelion | peri | 209.12368643781° |
| Longitude of the ascending node | node | 308.14772922699° |
| Mean anomaly | M | 34.429470307218° |
| Mean motion | n | 1.25439126°/day |
View Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) in the 3D Solar System Simulator
15 Days Ephemeris
The following table lists the ephemerides of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) computed for the past and next 7 days, with a 24 hours interval. Apparent celestial coordinates are provided.
| Date | Right AscensionR.A. | DeclinationDec. | MagnitudeMag | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 May 18 | 18h 07m 58s | -54° 54’ 47” | 28.89 | Ara |
| 2025 May 19 | 18h 07m 50s | -54° 55’ 10” | 28.89 | Ara |
| 2025 May 20 | 18h 07m 41s | -54° 55’ 32” | 28.89 | Ara |
| 2025 May 21 | 18h 07m 33s | -54° 55’ 53” | 28.89 | Ara |
| 2025 May 22 | 18h 07m 24s | -54° 56’ 15” | 28.89 | Ara |
| 2025 May 23 | 18h 07m 16s | -54° 56’ 34” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 24 | 18h 07m 07s | -54° 56’ 53” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 25 | 18h 06m 58s | -54° 57’ 13” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 26 | 18h 06m 49s | -54° 57’ 30” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 27 | 18h 06m 40s | -54° 57’ 47” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 28 | 18h 06m 31s | -54° 58’ 04” | 28.90 | Ara |
| 2025 May 29 | 18h 06m 22s | -54° 58’ 19” | 28.91 | Ara |
| 2025 May 30 | 18h 06m 13s | -54° 58’ 33” | 28.91 | Ara |
| 2025 May 31 | 18h 06m 04s | -54° 58’ 48” | 28.91 | Ara |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4): Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)?: Key information on locating Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) in the sky.
- Distance from Earth: Find out how far Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) is from Earth right now.
- How Bright is Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)?: Current visual brightness (magnitude) and apparent size.
- Rise and Set Times: Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)'s rise and set times from your location.
- Interactive Sky Map: planetarium-style interactive visualization of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)'s position in the sky.
- Live Position Tracker: high precision position tracker with deep space imagery.
- Ephemeris: 15 days Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4)'s computed ephemeris.
- Orbital elements: information about Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) orbital parameters.
- Orbit Visualization. 3d interactive visualization showing the orbit of Comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) with respect to the major Solar System objects.