The following orbits and ephemerides include the rocket-like effects (nongravitational accelerations) usually associated with active comets. Normally, these effects cannot be determined accurately with fewer than three apparitions so they are rarely used for one apparition long-period comets. While the formal errors of these nongravitational parameters (A1, A2) are quite small, realistic errors are probably several times larger. Given the short observation interval and the relatively large radial nongravitational acceleration noted, one cannot escape the conclusion that this comet is small (easy to push around...) - a conclusion consistent with the recent radar results reported by Steve Ostro.
Original and Future Orbital Periods
If one takes the orbit given below and numerically integrates it backward and forward in time so that the comet is outside the planetary system, and then refers these orbits to the solar system barycenter, one can get an "original" and "future" orbital period of 17,500 and 29,500 years respectively. That is, the comet was last at perihelion 17,500 years ago and will not return for another 29,500 years. These estimates are very approximate and will likely change as the orbit is updated.
Object: Comet 1996 B2 Hyakutake
Ref. Solution: 46
Planetary Ephemeris: DE403
No. Observations: 851
Observation Arc: 1996 Jan 1 - 1996 May 11
---- Optical Residuals ---- RA Dec Total
Mean .023 -.016 .028
RMS, unweighted .835 .716 .777
RMS, weighted .777
Normalized RMS .777 (mean residual = 0.62")
No. optical observations: 848
----- Radar Residuals ----- Delay Doppler Radar+Optical
Normalized RMS .000 3.419 .790
No. Delay, Doppler Obs.: 0, 3
---- Corrected Elements (J2000): Solution 46
Epoch 2450270.50000 = 1996 Jul 6.00000
Post-Fit Std.Dev.
e 0.999802443 .000018742
q 0.230190159 .000003182
Tp 2450204.8961527 .0000702 1996 May 1.39615
Node 188.0463289 .0000232
w 130.1652853 .0004552
i 124.9240377 .0001278
A1 3.0437E-8 0.073E-8
A2 -0.3923E-8 0.081E-8
---- Elements at other epochs:
Epoch (TDB) e q Node w i Tp
1996 Mar 25.0 .99989641 .230223600 188.045288 130.174983 124.923336 1996 May 1.394016
1996 Apr 27.0 .99972528 .230218755 188.045490 130.178887 124.923913 1996 May 1.395170
1996 May 17.0 .99975406 .230203169 188.045498 130.164592 124.923908 1996 May 1.394672
1996 May 27.0 .99977928 .230197578 188.045528 130.164554 124.923923 1996 May 1.395094
1996 Jun 6.0 .99979088 .230194362 188.045613 130.164690 124.923948 1996 May 1.395455
1996 Jun 16.0 .99979704 .230192284 188.045766 130.164856 124.923979 1996 May 1.395751
e: Eccentricity
q: Perihelion passage distance (AU)
Node: Longitude of the ascending node (deg.)
w: Argument of perihelion (deg.)
i: Inclination (deg.)
Tp: Perihelion passage time (TDB)
A1: Radial sun-comet nongravitational acceleration parameter in AU/(day)**2
A2: Transverse nongravitational acceleration parameter in AU/(day)**2
Rough 1 sigma ephemeris uncertainties are:
RA DEC
1996 May 15 1" 1"
May 30 3" 2"
June 15 7" 2"
June 30 10" 3"
July 15 11" 7"
Ephemeris (with perturbations) for Comet 1996 B2 Hyakutake
JPL Ref. Orbit 46 by D.K. Yeomans, May 13, 1996
Ephemeris output times are UTC (not TT).
Date (UT) Hr R.A. J2000 Dec. Delta Deldot r Theta Beta Moon TMag
1996 May 10 00 02 22 54.64 +07 32 44.7 1.239 -6.195 .372 15.1 44.9 80 1.7
1996 May 10 12 02 23 18.67 +06 47 05.6 1.237 -6.921 .385 16.0 46.3 73 1.8
1996 May 11 00 02 23 45.43 +06 01 57.6 1.235 -7.554 .397 16.9 47.6 66 1.9
1996 May 11 12 02 24 14.76 +05 17 19.0 1.232 -8.106 .410 17.7 48.7 59 2.1
1996 May 12 00 02 24 46.50 +04 33 08.0 1.230 -8.585 .422 18.6 49.8 52 2.2
1996 May 12 12 02 25 20.52 +03 49 23.0 1.227 -8.999 .435 19.5 50.8 45 2.3
1996 May 13 00 02 25 56.69 +03 06 02.1 1.225 -9.355 .447 20.3 51.7 39 2.4
1996 May 13 12 02 26 34.90 +02 23 03.9 1.222 -9.660 .460 21.2 52.6 32 2.6
1996 May 14 00 02 27 15.04 +01 40 26.6 1.219 -9.918 .473 22.0 53.4 26 2.7
1996 May 14 12 02 27 57.04 +00 58 08.8 1.216 -10.134 .485 22.9 54.1 21 2.8
1996 May 15 00 02 28 40.80 +00 16 08.9 1.213 -10.311 .498 23.7 54.7 16 2.9
1996 May 15 12 02 29 26.24 -00 25 34.3 1.210 -10.455 .511 24.5 55.3 13 3.0
1996 May 16 00 02 30 13.32 -01 07 02.3 1.207 -10.566 .523 25.4 55.9 14 3.1
1996 May 16 12 02 31 01.95 -01 48 16.3 1.204 -10.649 .536 26.2 56.4 16 3.2
1996 May 17 00 02 31 52.10 -02 29 17.4 1.201 -10.706 .548 27.0 56.9 21 3.3
1996 May 17 12 02 32 43.71 -03 10 06.8 1.198 -10.738 .561 27.8 57.3 26 3.4
1996 May 18 00 02 33 36.73 -03 50 45.5 1.195 -10.748 .573 28.6 57.7 31 3.5
1996 May 18 12 02 34 31.13 -04 31 14.6 1.192 -10.736 .586 29.4 58.0 37 3.6
1996 May 19 00 02 35 26.87 -05 11 34.9 1.189 -10.705 .598 30.2 58.3 43 3.6
1996 May 19 12 02 36 23.93 -05 51 47.3 1.186 -10.656 .610 31.0 58.6 48 3.7
1996 May 20 00 02 37 22.26 -06 31 52.7 1.183 -10.590 .623 31.8 58.8 54 3.8
1996 May 20 12 02 38 21.86 -07 11 51.7 1.179 -10.508 .635 32.6 59.1 60 3.9
1996 May 21 00 02 39 22.69 -07 51 45.2 1.176 -10.410 .647 33.3 59.3 65 4.0
1996 May 21 12 02 40 24.73 -08 31 33.7 1.173 -10.298 .659 34.1 59.4 71 4.0
1996 May 22 00 02 41 27.97 -09 11 17.9 1.171 -10.172 .671 34.9 59.6 76 4.1
1996 May 22 12 02 42 32.40 -09 50 58.4 1.168 -10.033 .683 35.6 59.7 82 4.2
1996 May 23 00 02 43 38.00 -10 30 35.6 1.165 -9.881 .695 36.4 59.8 87 4.3
1996 May 23 12 02 44 44.76 -11 10 10.1 1.162 -9.718 .707 37.2 59.9 92 4.3
1996 May 24 00 02 45 52.67 -11 49 42.3 1.159 -9.543 .719 37.9 59.9 97 4.4
1996 May 24 12 02 47 01.72 -12 29 12.6 1.156 -9.356 .731 38.7 60.0 103 4.5
1996 May 25 00 02 48 11.92 -13 08 41.3 1.154 -9.159 .743 39.4 60.0 108 4.5
1996 May 25 12 02 49 23.25 -13 48 08.8 1.151 -8.952 .754 40.2 60.0 113 4.6
1996 May 26 00 02 50 35.71 -14 27 35.4 1.149 -8.735 .766 40.9 60.0 118 4.6
1996 May 26 12 02 51 49.30 -15 07 01.3 1.146 -8.508 .777 41.6 60.0 123 4.7
1996 May 27 00 02 53 04.03 -15 46 26.8 1.144 -8.271 .789 42.4 60.0 127 4.8
1996 May 27 12 02 54 19.88 -16 25 51.9 1.141 -8.025 .801 43.1 59.9 132 4.8
1996 May 28 00 02 55 36.88 -17 05 17.0 1.139 -7.771 .812 43.8 59.8 136 4.9
1996 May 28 12 02 56 55.01 -17 44 42.0 1.137 -7.507 .823 44.6 59.8 139 4.9
1996 May 29 00 02 58 14.29 -18 24 07.2 1.135 -7.236 .835 45.3 59.7 142 5.0
1996 May 29 12 02 59 34.71 -19 03 32.5 1.133 -6.956 .846 46.0 59.6 145 5.0
1996 May 30 00 03 00 56.30 -19 42 57.9 1.131 -6.668 .857 46.7 59.4 146 5.1
1996 May 30 12 03 02 19.04 -20 22 23.6 1.129 -6.372 .868 47.5 59.3 146 5.2
1996 May 31 00 03 03 42.97 -21 01 49.4 1.127 -6.068 .880 48.2 59.2 145 5.2
1996 May 31 12 03 05 08.07 -21 41 15.3 1.125 -5.757 .891 48.9 59.0 143 5.3
1996 Jun 1 00 03 06 34.38 -22 20 41.3 1.124 -5.439 .902 49.6 58.9 140 5.3
1996 Jun 1 12 03 08 01.88 -23 00 07.1 1.122 -5.114 .913 50.3 58.7 136 5.4
1996 Jun 2 00 03 09 30.61 -23 39 32.8 1.121 -4.782 .924 51.0 58.5 131 5.4
1996 Jun 2 12 03 11 00.57 -24 18 58.0 1.119 -4.443 .935 51.7 58.4 127 5.5
1996 Jun 3 00 03 12 31.78 -24 58 22.7 1.118 -4.098 .946 52.4 58.2 121 5.5
1996 Jun 3 12 03 14 04.25 -25 37 46.7 1.117 -3.746 .957 53.1 58.0 116 5.5
1996 Jun 4 00 03 15 37.99 -26 17 09.6 1.116 -3.388 .967 53.8 57.8 111 5.6
1996 Jun 4 12 03 17 13.04 -26 56 31.4 1.115 -3.025 .978 54.4 57.5 105 5.6
1996 Jun 5 00 03 18 49.39 -27 35 51.6 1.114 -2.655 .989 55.1 57.3 100 5.7
1996 Jun 5 12 03 20 27.07 -28 15 10.1 1.113 -2.280 1.000 55.8 57.1 95 5.7
1996 Jun 6 00 03 22 06.10 -28 54 26.4 1.113 -1.900 1.010 56.5 56.9 89 5.8
1996 Jun 6 12 03 23 46.50 -29 33 40.4 1.112 -1.514 1.021 57.1 56.6 84 5.8
1996 Jun 7 00 03 25 28.28 -30 12 51.5 1.112 -1.124 1.031 57.8 56.4 80 5.9
1996 Jun 7 12 03 27 11.47 -30 51 59.5 1.112 -.728 1.042 58.5 56.1 75 5.9
1996 Jun 8 00 03 28 56.09 -31 31 04.0 1.112 -.327 1.052 59.1 55.9 71 6.0
1996 Jun 8 12 03 30 42.16 -32 10 04.6 1.112 .078 1.063 59.8 55.6 67 6.0
1996 Jun 9 00 03 32 29.71 -32 49 00.7 1.112 .487 1.073 60.4 55.3 63 6.0
1996 Jun 9 12 03 34 18.75 -33 27 52.1 1.112 .901 1.084 61.1 55.1 60 6.1
1996 Jun 10 00 03 36 09.31 -34 06 38.3 1.112 1.318 1.094 61.7 54.8 58 6.1
1996 Jun 10 12 03 38 01.42 -34 45 18.7 1.113 1.740 1.104 62.3 54.5 56 6.2
1996 Jun 11 00 03 39 55.10 -35 23 52.9 1.113 2.165 1.115 63.0 54.2 54 6.2
1996 Jun 11 12 03 41 50.37 -36 02 20.4 1.114 2.594 1.125 63.6 53.9 53 6.2
1996 Jun 12 00 03 43 47.27 -36 40 40.8 1.115 3.026 1.135 64.2 53.7 53 6.3
1996 Jun 12 12 03 45 45.81 -37 18 53.4 1.116 3.461 1.145 64.8 53.4 53 6.3
1996 Jun 13 00 03 47 46.04 -37 56 57.7 1.117 3.899 1.155 65.4 53.1 53 6.4
1996 Jun 13 12 03 49 47.97 -38 34 53.3 1.118 4.340 1.165 66.0 52.8 54 6.4
1996 Jun 14 00 03 51 51.63 -39 12 39.5 1.119 4.784 1.176 66.6 52.5 56 6.4
1996 Jun 14 12 03 53 57.06 -39 50 15.8 1.121 5.229 1.186 67.2 52.2 58 6.5
1996 Jun 15 00 03 56 04.29 -40 27 41.6 1.122 5.677 1.196 67.8 51.9 60 6.5
1996 Jun 15 03 56 04.29 -40 27 41.6 1.122 5.677 1.196 67.8 51.9 60 6.5
1996 Jun 16 04 00 24.26 -41 41 59.6 1.126 6.578 1.216 68.9 51.3 64 6.6
1996 Jun 17 04 04 51.80 -42 55 28.7 1.130 7.484 1.235 70.1 50.6 69 6.7
1996 Jun 18 04 09 27.16 -44 08 04.4 1.134 8.395 1.255 71.2 50.0 75 6.8
1996 Jun 19 04 14 10.64 -45 19 42.0 1.139 9.308 1.275 72.2 49.4 80 6.8
1996 Jun 20 04 19 02.49 -46 30 16.7 1.145 10.222 1.294 73.3 48.8 85 6.9
1996 Jun 21 04 24 03.02 -47 39 43.8 1.151 11.136 1.313 74.3 48.2 90 7.0
1996 Jun 22 04 29 12.51 -48 47 58.8 1.158 12.046 1.333 75.3 47.5 94 7.1
1996 Jun 23 04 34 31.26 -49 54 57.1 1.165 12.953 1.352 76.2 46.9 98 7.1
1996 Jun 24 04 39 59.55 -51 00 34.3 1.173 13.854 1.371 77.2 46.3 101 7.2
1996 Jun 25 04 45 37.67 -52 04 46.1 1.181 14.749 1.390 78.0 45.7 104 7.3
1996 Jun 26 04 51 25.91 -53 07 28.4 1.190 15.635 1.408 78.9 45.1 106 7.4
1996 Jun 27 04 57 24.54 -54 08 37.2 1.199 16.512 1.427 79.7 44.5 106 7.4
1996 Jun 28 05 03 33.81 -55 08 08.5 1.209 17.378 1.446 80.5 43.9 106 7.5
1996 Jun 29 05 09 53.97 -56 05 58.9 1.219 18.233 1.464 81.3 43.3 106 7.6
1996 Jun 30 05 16 25.23 -57 02 04.9 1.230 19.075 1.483 82.0 42.8 104 7.7
1996 Jul 1 05 23 07.77 -57 56 23.4 1.241 19.903 1.501 82.7 42.2 103 7.7
1996 Jul 2 05 30 01.74 -58 48 51.4 1.253 20.717 1.519 83.3 41.7 100 7.8
1996 Jul 3 05 37 07.23 -59 39 26.3 1.265 21.516 1.537 83.9 41.1 98 7.9
1996 Jul 4 05 44 24.29 -60 28 05.6 1.278 22.299 1.555 84.5 40.6 96 8.0
1996 Jul 5 05 51 52.91 -61 14 47.2 1.291 23.067 1.573 85.1 40.1 94 8.0
1996 Jul 6 05 59 32.98 -61 59 29.2 1.305 23.817 1.591 85.6 39.6 92 8.1
1996 Jul 7 06 07 24.35 -62 42 10.2 1.319 24.551 1.609 86.1 39.1 91 8.2
1996 Jul 8 06 15 26.75 -63 22 48.8 1.333 25.268 1.627 86.5 38.6 90 8.2
1996 Jul 9 06 23 39.85 -64 01 24.1 1.348 25.968 1.644 86.9 38.1 89 8.3
1996 Jul 10 06 32 03.20 -64 37 55.4 1.363 26.650 1.662 87.3 37.7 89 8.4
1996 Jul 11 06 40 36.27 -65 12 22.4 1.379 27.314 1.679 87.7 37.2 88 8.4
1996 Jul 12 06 49 18.39 -65 44 45.4 1.394 27.961 1.697 88.0 36.8 87 8.5
1996 Jul 13 06 58 08.84 -66 15 04.6 1.411 28.590 1.714 88.3 36.4 87 8.6
1996 Jul 14 07 07 06.76 -66 43 20.9 1.427 29.201 1.731 88.5 35.9 86 8.7
1996 Jul 15 07 16 11.23 -67 09 35.6 1.445 29.794 1.748 88.8 35.5 85 8.7
1996 Jul 16 07 25 21.23 -67 33 50.2 1.462 30.370 1.765 89.0 35.1 84 8.8
1996 Jul 17 07 34 35.66 -67 56 06.7 1.480 30.929 1.782 89.1 34.8 83 8.9
1996 Jul 18 07 43 53.37 -68 16 27.7 1.498 31.470 1.799 89.3 34.4 81 8.9
1996 Jul 19 07 53 13.16 -68 34 55.7 1.516 31.994 1.816 89.4 34.0 80 9.0
1996 Jul 20 08 02 33.81 -68 51 33.9 1.535 32.501 1.833 89.5 33.7 79 9.1
1996 Jul 21 08 11 54.10 -69 06 25.8 1.553 32.991 1.850 89.6 33.3 78 9.1
1996 Jul 22 08 21 12.79 -69 19 35.1 1.573 33.465 1.867 89.6 33.0 77 9.2
1996 Jul 23 08 30 28.69 -69 31 05.8 1.592 33.922 1.883 89.6 32.6 77 9.3
1996 Jul 24 08 39 40.65 -69 41 02.2 1.612 34.364 1.900 89.6 32.3 77 9.3
1996 Jul 25 08 48 47.58 -69 49 28.6 1.632 34.790 1.916 89.6 32.0 78 9.4
1996 Jul 26 08 57 48.47 -69 56 29.8 1.652 35.200 1.933 89.6 31.7 80 9.5
1996 Jul 27 09 06 42.38 -70 02 10.2 1.672 35.596 1.949 89.5 31.4 82 9.5
1996 Jul 28 09 15 28.48 -70 06 34.7 1.693 35.977 1.965 89.4 31.1 85 9.6
1996 Jul 29 09 24 06.02 -70 09 48.1 1.714 36.343 1.982 89.3 30.8 89 9.6
1996 Jul 30 09 32 34.38 -70 11 54.9 1.735 36.696 1.998 89.2 30.5 93 9.7
1996 Jul 31 09 40 53.02 -70 12 59.9 1.756 37.035 2.014 89.1 30.3 98 9.8
1996 Aug 1 09 49 01.52 -70 13 07.7 1.778 37.360 2.030 88.9 30.0 102 9.8
1996 Aug 2 09 56 59.52 -70 12 22.8 1.800 37.673 2.046 88.7 29.7 105 9.9
1996 Aug 3 10 04 46.79 -70 10 49.5 1.821 37.972 2.062 88.5 29.5 108 9.9
1996 Aug 4 10 12 23.16 -70 08 32.0 1.843 38.259 2.078 88.3 29.2 110 10.0
1996 Aug 5 10 19 48.54 -70 05 34.4 1.866 38.534 2.094 88.1 29.0 111 10.1
1996 Aug 6 10 27 02.92 -70 02 00.4 1.888 38.797 2.110 87.9 28.7 111 10.1
1996 Aug 7 10 34 06.34 -69 57 53.8 1.910 39.047 2.126 87.6 28.5 110 10.2
1996 Aug 8 10 40 58.89 -69 53 17.9 1.933 39.286 2.141 87.4 28.2 108 10.2
1996 Aug 9 10 47 40.71 -69 48 16.0 1.956 39.514 2.157 87.1 28.0 105 10.3
1996 Aug 10 10 54 11.98 -69 42 51.0 1.979 39.730 2.173 86.8 27.8 102 10.4
1996 Aug 11 11 00 32.91 -69 37 05.9 2.002 39.935 2.188 86.5 27.5 98 10.4
1996 Aug 12 11 06 43.75 -69 31 03.3 2.025 40.129 2.204 86.2 27.3 93 10.5
1996 Aug 13 11 12 44.75 -69 24 45.5 2.048 40.312 2.219 85.9 27.1 88 10.5
1996 Aug 14 11 18 36.19 -69 18 14.9 2.071 40.485 2.235 85.6 26.9 84 10.6
1996 Aug 15 11 24 18.36 -69 11 33.6 2.095 40.648 2.250 85.3 26.7 79 10.6
1996 Aug 16 11 29 51.54 -69 04 43.3 2.118 40.801 2.265 84.9 26.4 74 10.7
1996 Aug 17 11 35 16.05 -68 57 46.1 2.142 40.943 2.281 84.6 26.2 70 10.7
1996 Aug 18 11 40 32.18 -68 50 43.3 2.166 41.077 2.296 84.2 26.0 67 10.8
1996 Aug 19 11 45 40.24 -68 43 36.6 2.189 41.200 2.311 83.8 25.8 64 10.8
1996 Aug 20 11 50 40.52 -68 36 27.2 2.213 41.315 2.326 83.5 25.6 62 10.9
1996 Aug 21 11 55 33.31 -68 29 16.3 2.237 41.420 2.341 83.1 25.4 62 10.9
1996 Aug 22 12 00 18.92 -68 22 05.1 2.261 41.517 2.356 82.7 25.2 63 11.0
1996 Aug 23 12 04 57.61 -68 14 54.7 2.285 41.605 2.371 82.3 25.0 66 11.0
1996 Aug 24 12 09 29.67 -68 07 45.7 2.309 41.685 2.386 81.9 24.8 70 11.1
1996 Aug 25 12 13 55.36 -68 00 39.2 2.333 41.757 2.401 81.5 24.6 76 11.1
1996 Aug 26 12 18 14.95 -67 53 35.7 2.357 41.821 2.416 81.1 24.4 82 11.2
1996 Aug 27 12 22 28.68 -67 46 36.0 2.381 41.877 2.431 80.6 24.2 90 11.2
1996 Aug 28 12 26 36.82 -67 39 40.6 2.406 41.926 2.446 80.2 24.0 97 11.3
1996 Aug 29 12 30 39.59 -67 32 50.1 2.430 41.968 2.461 79.8 23.8 104 11.3
1996 Aug 30 12 34 37.23 -67 26 04.9 2.454 42.002 2.475 79.4 23.6 111 11.4
1996 Aug 31 12 38 29.95 -67 19 25.5 2.478 42.029 2.490 78.9 23.4 116 11.4
1996 Sep 1 12 42 17.97 -67 12 52.2 2.503 42.050 2.505 78.5 23.3 120 11.5
1996 Sep 2 12 46 01.50 -67 06 25.5 2.527 42.063 2.519 78.0 23.1 122 11.5
1996 Sep 3 12 49 40.72 -67 00 05.6 2.551 42.069 2.534 77.6 22.9 122 11.6
1996 Sep 4 12 53 15.82 -66 53 52.7 2.576 42.068 2.548 77.1 22.7 121 11.6
1996 Sep 5 12 56 46.98 -66 47 47.3 2.600 42.061 2.563 76.7 22.5 118 11.7
1996 Sep 6 13 00 14.35 -66 41 49.4 2.624 42.046 2.577 76.2 22.3 114 11.7
1996 Sep 7 13 03 38.11 -66 35 59.2 2.648 42.025 2.592 75.8 22.1 109 11.8
1996 Sep 8 13 06 58.40 -66 30 16.9 2.673 41.996 2.606 75.3 22.0 103 11.8
1996 Sep 9 13 10 15.37 -66 24 42.7 2.697 41.962 2.621 74.8 21.8 97 11.8
1996 Sep 10 13 13 29.15 -66 19 16.6 2.721 41.920 2.635 74.4 21.6 91 11.9
1996 Sep 11 13 16 39.87 -66 13 58.7 2.745 41.872 2.649 73.9 21.4 84 11.9
1996 Sep 12 13 19 47.65 -66 08 49.1 2.769 41.818 2.663 73.4 21.2 78 12.0
1996 Sep 13 13 22 52.62 -66 03 47.9 2.794 41.757 2.678 73.0 21.1 71 12.0
1996 Sep 14 13 25 54.88 -65 58 55.0 2.818 41.691 2.692 72.5 20.9 66 12.1
1996 Sep 15 13 28 54.54 -65 54 10.4 2.842 41.618 2.706 72.0 20.7 61 12.1
R.A. J2000 Dec. = Geocentric astrometric right ascension and declination
referred to the mean equator and equinox of J2000.
Light time corrections have been applied
Delta = Geocentric distance of object in AU
Deldot = Geocentric radial velocity of object in km/s
r = Heliocentric distance of object in AU
Theta = Sun-Earth-Object angle in degrees
Beta = Sun-Object-Earth angle in degrees
Moon = Object-Earth-Moon angle in degrees
TMag = Total magnitude = 5.5 + 5.00*log(Delta) + 10.00*log(r)
Comet 1996 B2 Hyakutake Home Page
