C/2021 G1 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Jul 2021	22.4	3.433 AU	4.080 AU	10h54m	+47°29'	44.7°	12.0°	69°
Nearest approach	11 Jan 2022	22.1	3.779 AU	2.939 AU	08h54m	+54°15'	143.9°	8.8°	214°
Today	18 May 2026	30.9	13.050 AU	13.900 AU	03h58m	-11°50'	31.7°	2.3°	172°

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. (14.0 + 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 C/2021 G1 (Leonard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9521530
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4327290
    i (Inclination)                 : 131.55170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 270.71180
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 107.49570
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 335.29345
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 45.53988
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459415.22610
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 607.68

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 17
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   03 57 49.8   -11 51 09    13.892   13.042   31.6    2.3   169   30.9 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   03 58 04.4   -11 50 55    13.897   13.047   31.7    2.3   171   30.9 
2026-05-18 13:48 UT   03 58 12.8   -11 50 47    13.900   13.050   31.7    2.3   172   30.9 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   03 58 19.0   -11 50 42    13.902   13.053   31.8    2.3   173   30.9 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   03 58 33.6   -11 50 32    13.906   13.058   31.9    2.3   174   30.9 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   03 58 48.3   -11 50 24    13.911   13.064   32.0    2.4   176   30.9 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   03 59 02.9   -11 50 18    13.915   13.069   32.1    2.4   178   30.9 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   03 59 17.6   -11 50 14    13.919   13.075   32.3    2.4   179   30.9 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   03 59 32.2   -11 50 13    13.922   13.080   32.5    2.4   181   30.9 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   03 59 46.8   -11 50 14    13.926   13.085   32.7    2.4   183   30.9 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   04 00 01.4   -11 50 17    13.929   13.091   32.9    2.4   184   30.9 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   04 00 16.0   -11 50 23    13.932   13.096   33.2    2.4   186   30.9 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   04 00 30.6   -11 50 30    13.934   13.102   33.5    2.4   187   30.9 

    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.