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	26 Jan 2026	34.8	12.943 AU	13.876 AU	19h50m	-33°29'	17.9°	1.3°	217°

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)                : 0.9966940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2566810
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.57960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 285.49070
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 201.29690
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 275.59659
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -18.95439
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.73380
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 7411.11

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    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
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   19 49 31.3   -33 30 58    13.872   12.933   16.8    1.3   213   34.8 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   19 49 49.8   -33 29 59    13.874   12.939   17.4    1.3   215   34.8 
2026-01-26 15:38 UT   19 50 01.8   -33 29 20    13.876   12.943   17.9    1.3   217   34.8 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   19 50 08.2   -33 29 00    13.877   12.945   18.1    1.4   218   34.8 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   19 50 26.5   -33 28 02    13.879   12.952   18.8    1.4   220   34.8 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   19 50 44.8   -33 27 06    13.882   12.958   19.5    1.5   221   34.8 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   19 51 02.9   -33 26 10    13.883   12.964   20.3    1.5   223   34.8 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   19 51 21.0   -33 25 16    13.885   12.971   21.0    1.6   225   34.8 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   19 51 38.9   -33 24 22    13.886   12.977   21.8    1.6   226   34.8 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   19 51 56.8   -33 23 29    13.887   12.984   22.6    1.7   228   34.8 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   19 52 14.5   -33 22 38    13.888   12.990   23.4    1.7   229   34.8 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   19 52 32.1   -33 21 47    13.889   12.996   24.2    1.8   230   34.9 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   19 52 49.6   -33 20 58    13.889   13.003   25.0    1.8   231   34.9 

    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.