P/2022 E1 (Christensen)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 May 2022	19.7	2.949 AU	2.017 AU	15h04m	+10°53'	152.7°	9.0°	191°
Perihelion	9 Jun 2022	19.9	2.945 AU	2.167 AU	14h43m	+09°05'	132.0°	14.8°	132°
Today	11 May 2025	23.7	4.497 AU	5.375 AU	02h09m	-03°43'	26.9°	5.8°	216°

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.)

The orbital elements of P/2022 E1 (Christensen) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.2205880
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.9445670
            i (Inclination)                 : 19.00700
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.34200
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 114.90680
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 49.49786
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 17.18111
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459739.90780
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 7.34

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 10
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-L66

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family; Quasi-Hilda
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.949
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. 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. (13.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   02 09 03.3   -03 46 33     5.378    4.496   26.4    5.7   215   23.7 
2025-05-11 18:10 UT   02 09 46.2   -03 43 20     5.375    4.497   26.9    5.8   216   23.7 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   02 09 60.0   -03 42 19     5.374    4.497   27.0    5.9   216   23.7 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   02 10 56.6   -03 38 08     5.369    4.498   27.6    6.0   217   23.7 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   02 11 53.1   -03 34 01     5.364    4.499   28.2    6.1   218   23.7 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   02 12 49.4   -03 29 58     5.359    4.500   28.8    6.2   219   23.7 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   02 13 45.7   -03 25 57     5.354    4.501   29.4    6.3   219   23.7 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   02 14 41.8   -03 22 01     5.349    4.501   30.0    6.4   220   23.7 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   02 15 37.8   -03 18 08     5.343    4.502   30.6    6.6   221   23.7 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   02 16 33.7   -03 14 18     5.338    4.503   31.2    6.7   222   23.7 
2025-05-20 00:00 UT   02 17 29.4   -03 10 32     5.332    4.504   31.8    6.8   223   23.7 
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   02 18 24.9   -03 06 49     5.326    4.505   32.4    6.9   223   23.7 

    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.