C/2022 A1 (Sarneczky)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Jan 2022	16.7	1.303 AU	0.323 AU	06h35m	+24°33'	169.8°	7.7°	101°
Perihelion	31 Jan 2022	18.5	1.257 AU	0.801 AU	03h07m	-14°26'	88.8°	51.6°	72°
Today	6 Nov 2025	34.5	12.421 AU	12.805 AU	19h28m	-35°27'	65.2°	4.2°	88°

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. (18.0 + 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/2022 A1 (Sarneczky) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9966900
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2566600
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.57960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 285.49070
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 201.29630
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 275.59689
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -18.95386
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.72760
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 7397.50

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 05
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-YN2

    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
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   19 27 59.7   -35 30 19    12.773   12.412   66.5    4.2    87   34.5 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   19 28 07.7   -35 28 34    12.795   12.419   65.6    4.2    87   34.5 
2025-11-06 10:17 UT   19 28 11.2   -35 27 48    12.805   12.421   65.2    4.2    88   34.5 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   19 28 16.0   -35 26 48    12.817   12.425   64.6    4.1    88   34.5 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   19 28 24.6   -35 25 03    12.838   12.432   63.7    4.1    88   34.5 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   19 28 33.5   -35 23 17    12.860   12.438   62.8    4.1    88   34.5 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   19 28 42.8   -35 21 32    12.881   12.444   61.8    4.0    88   34.5 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   19 28 52.3   -35 19 47    12.902   12.451   60.9    4.0    89   34.5 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   19 29 02.2   -35 18 02    12.923   12.457   59.9    3.9    89   34.5 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   19 29 12.4   -35 16 18    12.944   12.464   59.0    3.9    89   34.5 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   19 29 22.8   -35 14 33    12.965   12.470   58.1    3.9    89   34.5 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   19 29 33.6   -35 12 49    12.985   12.477   57.1    3.8    90   34.5 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   19 29 44.6   -35 11 05    13.006   12.483   56.2    3.8    90   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.