P/2021 L2 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	23 Jul 2021	20.0	1.940 AU	1.076 AU	21h37m	+18°13'	136.1°	21.3°	210°
Nearest approach	11 Aug 2021	20.0	1.948 AU	1.045 AU	21h25m	+22°29'	142.2°	18.6°	181°
Today	22 Dec 2024	28.4	6.039 AU	5.285 AU	08h39m	+02°21'	136.7°	6.4°	302°

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/2021 L2 (Leonard) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.5207090
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.9401980
            i (Inclination)                 : 21.06430
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 266.65260
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 51.46630
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 316.17435
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 16.32884
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459418.76250
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 8.14

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 21
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-W31

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.691
        

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 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. (17.00 + 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
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   08 39 35.8   +02 21 36     5.289    6.039  136.3    6.5   302   28.4 
2024-12-22 10:32 UT   08 39 25.1   +02 21 05     5.285    6.039  136.7    6.4   302   28.4 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   08 39 11.2   +02 20 26     5.280    6.040  137.3    6.3   303   28.4 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   08 38 45.9   +02 19 19     5.271    6.041  138.3    6.2   304   28.4 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   08 38 20.2   +02 18 17     5.262    6.042  139.3    6.1   304   28.4 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   08 37 53.9   +02 17 19     5.253    6.043  140.3    6.0   305   28.4 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   08 37 27.1   +02 16 25     5.244    6.044  141.3    5.8   306   28.4 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   08 36 59.8   +02 15 35     5.236    6.045  142.3    5.7   307   28.4 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   08 36 32.1   +02 14 49     5.228    6.045  143.3    5.6   307   28.4 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   08 36 03.8   +02 14 08     5.220    6.046  144.3    5.4   308   28.4 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   08 35 35.2   +02 13 31     5.213    6.047  145.3    5.3   309   28.4 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   08 35 06.0   +02 12 58     5.206    6.048  146.3    5.2   310   28.4 

    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.