P/2017 Y3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Feb 2018	18.8	1.273 AU	1.498 AU	17h25m	-02°09'	57.3°	40.7°	288°
Perihelion	6 Feb 2018	18.8	1.273 AU	1.499 AU	17h33m	-01°57'	57.3°	40.7°	287°
Today	28 Mar 2026	34.9	15.535 AU	16.423 AU	01h57m	-10°11'	26.3°	1.6°	118°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 16.9 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 P/2017 Y3 (Leonard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8699960
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2729730
    i (Inclination)                 : 27.64990
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 154.07780
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.24240
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.73683
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 25.33689
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458156.12460
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 30.64

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   01 57 36.2   -10 13 44    16.416   15.533   26.9    1.7   117   34.9 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   01 57 50.0   -10 12 05    16.423   15.535   26.4    1.6   118   34.9 
2026-03-28 01:16 UT   01 57 50.8   -10 11 60    16.423   15.535   26.3    1.6   118   34.9 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   01 58 04.0   -10 10 26    16.430   15.538   25.8    1.6   120   34.9 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   01 58 18.0   -10 08 48    16.437   15.540   25.3    1.6   122   34.9 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   01 58 32.1   -10 07 11    16.443   15.542   24.8    1.5   124   34.9 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   01 58 46.3   -10 05 35    16.449   15.544   24.3    1.5   125   34.9 
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   01 59 00.5   -10 04 00    16.455   15.546   23.9    1.5   127   34.9 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   01 59 14.8   -10 02 26    16.461   15.549   23.4    1.5   129   34.9 
2026-04-04 00:00 UT   01 59 29.2   -10 00 53    16.466   15.551   23.0    1.4   132   34.9 
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   01 59 43.6   -09 59 20    16.471   15.553   22.7    1.4   134   34.9 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   01 59 58.1   -09 57 49    16.476   15.555   22.3    1.4   136   34.9 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   02 00 12.7   -09 56 19    16.481   15.558   22.0    1.4   138   34.9 

    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.