C/2022 D2 (Kowalski)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	23 Jan 2022	19.8	1.778 AU	1.134 AU	03h22m	+44°08'	113.9°	30.4°	86°
Perihelion	28 Mar 2022	19.5	1.553 AU	1.310 AU	06h03m	+24°24'	83.4°	39.7°	90°
Today	20 Mar 2026	33.6	12.693 AU	12.775 AU	18h31m	-38°20'	83.0°	4.5°	265°

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)                : 0.9962730
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5532030
    i (Inclination)                 : 22.69000
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 312.33640
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 177.89700
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 310.39603
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.81107
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459666.79600
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8507.53

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   18 31 50.8   -38 19 28    12.788   12.686   81.9    4.5   265   33.6 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   18 31 57.2   -38 20 24    12.778   12.692   82.8    4.5   265   33.6 
2026-03-20 05:17 UT   18 31 58.5   -38 20 36    12.775   12.693   83.0    4.5   265   33.6 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   18 32 03.2   -38 21 20    12.768   12.698   83.7    4.5   265   33.6 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   18 32 08.7   -38 22 17    12.758   12.705   84.7    4.5   265   33.6 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   18 32 13.9   -38 23 14    12.748   12.711   85.6    4.5   266   33.6 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   18 32 18.7   -38 24 11    12.737   12.717   86.6    4.5   266   33.6 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   18 32 23.0   -38 25 09    12.727   12.724   87.5    4.5   266   33.6 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   18 32 27.0   -38 26 08    12.717   12.730   88.5    4.5   266   33.6 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   18 32 30.6   -38 27 07    12.707   12.736   89.4    4.5   266   33.6 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   18 32 33.7   -38 28 06    12.697   12.743   90.3    4.5   267   33.6 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   18 32 36.5   -38 29 06    12.687   12.749   91.3    4.5   267   33.6 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   18 32 38.8   -38 30 06    12.677   12.755   92.2    4.5   267   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.