C/2020 K3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	1 Jun 2020	19.3	1.583 AU	1.824 AU	00h01m	+41°40'	60.0°	33.7°	266°
Nearest approach	11 Jul 2020	18.9	1.676 AU	1.307 AU	18h53m	+66°20'	91.4°	37.3°	173°
Today	12 Jul 2025	33.8	15.259 AU	15.443 AU	11h50m	-21°13'	77.7°	3.7°	120°

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 C/2020 K3 (Leonard) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000000
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5830690
            i (Inclination)                 : 129.01520
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 28.35460
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 64.49240
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -24.48574
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 44.52701
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459001.50310

            Epoch                           : 
            Reference                       : MPEC 2020-KF9

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (14.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 16.03 + 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   11 50 31.6   -21 13 46    15.438   15.258   77.9    3.7   120   33.8 
2025-07-12 05:52 UT   11 50 32.7   -21 13 38    15.443   15.259   77.7    3.7   120   33.8 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   11 50 35.9   -21 13 12    15.459   15.263   77.0    3.7   120   33.8 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   11 50 40.4   -21 12 39    15.480   15.269   76.1    3.7   120   33.8 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   11 50 45.1   -21 12 09    15.502   15.275   75.3    3.7   121   33.8 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   11 50 50.0   -21 11 40    15.523   15.281   74.4    3.7   121   33.8 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   11 50 55.1   -21 11 13    15.544   15.287   73.5    3.7   121   33.8 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   11 51 00.4   -21 10 48    15.565   15.293   72.6    3.6   122   33.8 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   11 51 06.0   -21 10 26    15.586   15.299   71.8    3.6   122   33.8 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   11 51 11.7   -21 10 05    15.607   15.305   70.9    3.6   122   33.8 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   11 51 17.6   -21 09 46    15.627   15.311   70.0    3.6   123   33.9 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   11 51 23.8   -21 09 29    15.648   15.316   69.1    3.6   123   33.9 

    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.