C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	15 Feb 2014	8.3	1.611 AU	2.103 AU	18h51m	+00°36'	47.6°	26.9°	288°
Nearest approach	28 Jun 2014	9.2	2.357 AU	1.629 AU	22h39m	-31°04'	124.3°	20.9°	262°
Today	14 May 2026	25.1	27.762 AU	28.507 AU	03h37m	-22°55'	41.7°	1.4°	175°

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. The light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (4.8 + 5 log[∆] + 9.0 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/2012 X1 (LINEAR) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9898340
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6110290
    i (Inclination)                 : 44.26720
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.48350
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 131.99450
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 74.98284
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.24938
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456704.21240
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1994.94

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   03 37 34.6   -22 56 45    28.503   27.755   41.5    1.4   173   25.1 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   03 37 43.7   -22 56 13    28.506   27.759   41.6    1.4   174   25.1 
2026-05-14 13:16 UT   03 37 48.8   -22 55 56    28.507   27.762   41.7    1.4   175   25.1 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   03 37 52.9   -22 55 42    28.509   27.763   41.8    1.4   176   25.1 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   03 38 02.0   -22 55 13    28.511   27.768   41.9    1.4   177   25.1 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   03 38 11.2   -22 54 45    28.513   27.772   42.1    1.4   178   25.1 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   03 38 20.3   -22 54 19    28.515   27.776   42.3    1.4   180   25.1 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   03 38 29.5   -22 53 54    28.517   27.780   42.5    1.4   181   25.1 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   03 38 38.6   -22 53 30    28.518   27.785   42.8    1.4   182   25.1 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   03 38 47.8   -22 53 08    28.519   27.789   43.0    1.4   184   25.1 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   03 38 56.9   -22 52 47    28.521   27.793   43.3    1.4   185   25.1 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   03 39 06.0   -22 52 28    28.522   27.798   43.6    1.4   186   25.1 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   03 39 15.1   -22 52 09    28.522   27.802   43.9    1.4   188   25.1 

    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.