C/2021 U4 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Nov 2021	19.7	1.899 AU	0.957 AU	02h37m	-11°36'	153.8°	13.3°	353°
Perihelion	23 Dec 2021	21.0	1.784 AU	1.945 AU	23h01m	-28°38'	65.8°	30.2°	75°
Today	12 Sep 2026	34.1	13.661 AU	14.242 AU	14h48m	-08°03'	53.0°	3.4°	101°

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. (17.0 + 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 U4 (Leonard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9600810
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7836370
    i (Inclination)                 : 152.86030
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 241.78990
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 237.28240
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 187.61567
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -22.56859
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459571.60200
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 298.67

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194177

    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
2026-09-11 00:00 UT   14 48 24.1   -08 01 42    14.209   13.651   54.6    3.4   102   34.1 
2026-09-12 00:00 UT   14 48 31.8   -08 02 29    14.228   13.656   53.7    3.4   102   34.1 
2026-09-12 17:50 UT   14 48 37.7   -08 03 06    14.242   13.661   53.0    3.4   101   34.1 
2026-09-13 00:00 UT   14 48 39.7   -08 03 18    14.247   13.662   52.7    3.4   101   34.1 
2026-09-14 00:00 UT   14 48 47.9   -08 04 07    14.266   13.668   51.8    3.3   101   34.1 
2026-09-15 00:00 UT   14 48 56.2   -08 04 57    14.285   13.673   50.9    3.3   101   34.1 
2026-09-16 00:00 UT   14 49 04.7   -08 05 47    14.303   13.679   50.0    3.2   101   34.1 
2026-09-17 00:00 UT   14 49 13.4   -08 06 37    14.322   13.684   49.1    3.2   100   34.1 
2026-09-18 00:00 UT   14 49 22.3   -08 07 28    14.340   13.690   48.1    3.1   100   34.1 
2026-09-19 00:00 UT   14 49 31.4   -08 08 19    14.358   13.695   47.2    3.1   100   34.2 
2026-09-20 00:00 UT   14 49 40.7   -08 09 11    14.375   13.701   46.3    3.0   100   34.2 
2026-09-21 00:00 UT   14 49 50.1   -08 10 03    14.393   13.707   45.4    3.0    99   34.2 
2026-09-22 00:00 UT   14 49 59.7   -08 10 55    14.410   13.712   44.5    2.9    99   34.2 

    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.