C/2022 F2 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Mar 2022	17.2	1.587 AU	1.349 AU	18h41m	-47°22'	83.8°	38.6°	263°
Nearest approach	15 Apr 2022	16.9	1.619 AU	1.156 AU	20h23m	-78°42'	96.9°	37.9°	256°
Today	30 Sep 2026	31.1	12.892 AU	12.344 AU	04h21m	+06°09'	121.2°	3.8°	269°

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. (14.5 + 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 F2 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9321110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5872080
    i (Inclination)                 : 97.34280
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 58.67940
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 200.56740
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 55.93383
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -20.39119
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459660.20850
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 113.05

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194179

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-29 00:00 UT   04 21 17.2   +06 10 32    12.357   12.885  119.8    3.9   269   31.1 
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   04 21 06.5   +06 09 40    12.348   12.890  120.8    3.8   269   31.1 
2026-09-30 10:30 UT   04 21 01.8   +06 09 17    12.344   12.892  121.2    3.8   269   31.1 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   04 20 55.6   +06 08 48    12.340   12.895  121.7    3.8   270   31.1 
2026-10-02 00:00 UT   04 20 44.4   +06 07 56    12.331   12.900  122.7    3.7   270   31.1 
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   04 20 32.8   +06 07 04    12.323   12.906  123.7    3.7   270   31.1 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   04 20 21.0   +06 06 12    12.315   12.911  124.7    3.7   271   31.1 
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   04 20 08.9   +06 05 20    12.307   12.916  125.7    3.6   271   31.1 
2026-10-06 00:00 UT   04 19 56.5   +06 04 28    12.299   12.921  126.7    3.6   272   31.1 
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   04 19 43.8   +06 03 36    12.291   12.927  127.6    3.5   272   31.1 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   04 19 30.8   +06 02 44    12.284   12.932  128.6    3.5   272   31.1 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   04 19 17.6   +06 01 52    12.277   12.937  129.6    3.4   273   31.1 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   04 19 04.1   +06 00 60    12.270   12.942  130.6    3.4   273   31.1 

    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.