C/2022 D2 (Kowalski)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	23 Jan 2022	19.8	1.776 AU	1.133 AU	03h22m	+44°07'	113.9°	30.4°	86°
Perihelion	28 Mar 2022	19.5	1.553 AU	1.308 AU	06h03m	+24°24'	83.5°	39.7°	90°
Today	16 Feb 2026	33.5	12.492 AU	13.051 AU	18h25m	-37°56'	53.7°	3.7°	256°

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/2022 D2 (Kowalski) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9961940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5527810
    i (Inclination)                 : 22.68640
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 312.34530
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 177.87680
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 310.38624
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.81873
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459666.69010
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8240.66

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-K19

    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
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   18 25 15.8   -37 55 24    13.061   12.482   52.3    3.6   256   33.5 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   18 25 33.2   -37 55 58    13.054   12.488   53.2    3.6   256   33.5 
2026-02-16 12:43 UT   18 25 42.4   -37 56 16    13.051   12.492   53.7    3.7   256   33.5 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   18 25 50.4   -37 56 32    13.048   12.495   54.1    3.7   256   33.5 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   18 26 07.3   -37 57 08    13.041   12.501   55.0    3.7   257   33.5 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   18 26 23.8   -37 57 44    13.034   12.507   55.9    3.8   257   33.5 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   18 26 40.1   -37 58 21    13.027   12.514   56.8    3.8   257   33.5 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   18 26 56.0   -37 58 59    13.019   12.520   57.7    3.8   258   33.5 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   18 27 11.6   -37 59 37    13.012   12.526   58.7    3.9   258   33.6 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   18 27 26.9   -38 00 16    13.004   12.533   59.6    3.9   258   33.6 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   18 27 41.9   -38 00 56    12.997   12.539   60.5    3.9   259   33.6 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   18 27 56.6   -38 01 37    12.989   12.546   61.4    4.0   259   33.6 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   18 28 10.9   -38 02 19    12.981   12.552   62.3    4.0   259   33.6 

    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.