C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	12 Jan 2023	7.0	1.116 AU	0.711 AU	15h44m	+38°43'	80.6°	60.4°	308°
Nearest approach	1 Feb 2023	5.1	1.163 AU	0.284 AU	06h36m	+70°40'	122.5°	45.6°	139°
Today	8 Mar 2026	22.9	11.076 AU	11.554 AU	01h38m	-56°29'	59.0°	4.4°	136°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.2 + 5 log[∆] + 9.9 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 E3 (ZTF) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000240
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.1161860
    i (Inclination)                 : 109.18100
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 302.48830
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 145.85970
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 315.04781
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 32.00987
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459956.84910

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 07
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   01 38 24.9   -56 33 54    11.545   11.067   59.0    4.4   135   22.9 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   01 38 47.1   -56 30 22    11.553   11.074   59.0    4.4   136   22.9 
2026-03-08 05:51 UT   01 38 52.6   -56 29 31    11.554   11.076   59.0    4.4   136   22.9 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   01 39 09.6   -56 26 54    11.560   11.081   59.0    4.4   137   22.9 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   01 39 32.3   -56 23 29    11.567   11.088   59.0    4.4   138   22.9 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   01 39 55.4   -56 20 08    11.573   11.095   59.0    4.4   139   22.9 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   01 40 18.7   -56 16 50    11.580   11.102   59.0    4.4   140   22.9 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   01 40 42.2   -56 13 35    11.586   11.109   59.1    4.4   141   22.9 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   01 41 06.0   -56 10 24    11.593   11.116   59.1    4.4   142   22.9 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   01 41 30.1   -56 07 17    11.599   11.123   59.2    4.4   143   22.9 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   01 41 54.4   -56 04 13    11.605   11.130   59.2    4.4   144   22.9 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   01 42 18.9   -56 01 12    11.611   11.136   59.3    4.4   145   22.9 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   01 42 43.6   -55 58 16    11.617   11.143   59.4    4.4   146   22.9 

    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.