P/2017 Y3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Feb 2018	18.8	1.277 AU	1.505 AU	17h26m	-02°08'	57.2°	40.5°	288°
Perihelion	6 Feb 2018	18.8	1.277 AU	1.505 AU	17h33m	-01°59'	57.2°	40.5°	287°
Today	12 Jul 2025	34.5	14.922 AU	15.009 AU	02h11m	-09°33'	83.2°	3.9°	246°

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.)

The orbital elements of P/2017 Y3 (Leonard) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8696510
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2766290
            i (Inclination)                 : 27.63230
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 154.02710
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.31900
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.77276
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 25.33616
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458155.86160
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 30.65

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 11
            Reference                       : MPC111770

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (16.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 16.85 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   02 11 16.5   -09 33 15    15.011   14.922   83.0    3.9   246   34.5 
2025-07-12 05:23 UT   02 11 17.7   -09 33 30    15.009   14.922   83.2    3.9   246   34.5 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   02 11 21.8   -09 34 23    14.998   14.924   83.9    3.9   247   34.5 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   02 11 26.9   -09 35 32    14.985   14.927   84.7    3.9   247   34.5 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   02 11 31.8   -09 36 43    14.972   14.929   85.6    3.9   247   34.5 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   02 11 36.4   -09 37 55    14.959   14.932   86.5    3.9   248   34.5 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   02 11 40.8   -09 39 09    14.946   14.934   87.4    3.9   248   34.5 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   02 11 45.0   -09 40 25    14.933   14.937   88.2    3.9   248   34.5 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   02 11 48.9   -09 41 42    14.920   14.939   89.1    3.9   249   34.5 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   02 11 52.5   -09 43 01    14.907   14.942   90.0    3.9   249   34.5 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   02 11 56.0   -09 44 21    14.894   14.944   90.9    3.9   249   34.5 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   02 11 59.1   -09 45 43    14.880   14.947   91.8    3.9   250   34.5 

    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.