C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Feb 2014	8.2	1.610 AU	2.037 AU	18h58m	+01°26'	51.0°	28.5°	285°
Nearest approach	27 Jun 2014	9.0	2.296 AU	1.554 AU	22h30m	-30°30'	125.3°	21.2°	262°
Today	2 Nov 2025	24.8	26.943 AU	26.220 AU	03h39m	-25°53'	136.0°	1.5°	336°

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)                : 0.9904900
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6099410
    i (Inclination)                 : 44.36210
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 112.87210
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 132.46610
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 74.87720
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.04939
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456710.02210
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 2202.64

    Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
    Reference                       : MPC108592

    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
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   03 39 22.4   -25 52 40    26.214   26.935  135.8    1.5   333   24.8 
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   03 39 13.6   -25 53 24    26.217   26.940  135.9    1.5   335   24.8 
2025-11-02 15:42 UT   03 39 07.8   -25 53 52    26.220   26.943  136.0    1.5   336   24.8 
2025-11-03 00:00 UT   03 39 04.7   -25 54 07    26.221   26.944  136.0    1.5   336   24.8 
2025-11-04 00:00 UT   03 38 55.7   -25 54 48    26.225   26.949  136.1    1.5   338   24.8 
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   03 38 46.7   -25 55 27    26.229   26.953  136.1    1.5   339   24.8 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   03 38 37.7   -25 56 05    26.233   26.957  136.1    1.5   341   24.8 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   03 38 28.6   -25 56 41    26.238   26.962  136.1    1.5   342   24.8 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   03 38 19.5   -25 57 16    26.242   26.966  136.1    1.5   344   24.8 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   03 38 10.3   -25 57 49    26.248   26.970  136.1    1.5   345   24.8 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   03 38 01.2   -25 58 20    26.253   26.975  136.0    1.5   347   24.8 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   03 37 51.9   -25 58 50    26.258   26.979  135.9    1.5   348   24.8 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   03 37 42.7   -25 59 18    26.264   26.983  135.8    1.5   350   24.8 

    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.