C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Feb 2014	8.3	1.606 AU	2.093 AU	18h52m	+00°41'	47.8°	27.1°	288°
Nearest approach	28 Jun 2014	9.2	2.350 AU	1.623 AU	22h39m	-31°02'	124.2°	21.0°	261°
Today	10 Nov 2026	25.1	28.526 AU	27.801 AU	03h41m	-25°26'	136.3°	1.4°	347°

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)                : 0.9898280
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6064230
    i (Inclination)                 : 44.26940
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.47210
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 131.95950
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 74.93818
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.26986
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456704.69690
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1984.63

    Epoch                           : 2026 Nov 10
    Reference                       : MPC194130

    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
2026-11-09 00:00 UT   03 41 28.9   -25 25 07    27.791   28.518  136.4    1.4   344   25.1 
2026-11-10 00:00 UT   03 41 20.3   -25 25 38    27.796   28.522  136.4    1.4   345   25.1 
2026-11-10 21:20 UT   03 41 12.6   -25 26 04    27.801   28.526  136.3    1.4   347   25.1 
2026-11-11 00:00 UT   03 41 11.6   -25 26 08    27.801   28.526  136.3    1.4   347   25.1 
2026-11-12 00:00 UT   03 41 02.9   -25 26 36    27.806   28.530  136.2    1.4   348   25.1 
2026-11-13 00:00 UT   03 40 54.2   -25 27 02    27.812   28.534  136.1    1.4   350   25.1 
2026-11-14 00:00 UT   03 40 45.5   -25 27 27    27.818   28.539  136.0    1.4   351   25.1 
2026-11-15 00:00 UT   03 40 36.7   -25 27 51    27.823   28.543  135.9    1.4   353   25.1 
2026-11-16 00:00 UT   03 40 28.0   -25 28 12    27.830   28.547  135.8    1.4   354   25.1 
2026-11-17 00:00 UT   03 40 19.2   -25 28 33    27.836   28.551  135.6    1.4   356   25.1 
2026-11-18 00:00 UT   03 40 10.4   -25 28 51    27.843   28.556  135.4    1.4   357   25.1 
2026-11-19 00:00 UT   03 40 01.7   -25 29 08    27.849   28.560  135.2    1.4   359   25.1 
2026-11-20 00:00 UT   03 39 52.9   -25 29 23    27.856   28.564  135.0    1.4     0   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.