C/2022 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2022	18.7	1.598 AU	2.294 AU	22h09m	-46°59'	35.7°	21.1°	180°
Nearest approach	13 Jun 2022	18.8	2.173 AU	1.252 AU	19h28m	-08°11'	146.6°	14.9°	240°
Today	4 Mar 2026	31.3	12.389 AU	12.217 AU	16h42m	+56°41'	97.7°	4.5°	270°

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. (14.9 + 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 J1 (Maury-Attard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9663040
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5984290
    i (Inclination)                 : 105.96010
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 280.80820
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 305.58580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.82858
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -51.43461
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459629.96230
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 326.72

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-VC5

    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
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   16 42 16.1   +56 35 46    12.214   12.382   97.5    4.6   271   31.3 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   16 42 12.9   +56 41 10    12.217   12.388   97.7    4.5   270   31.3 
2026-03-04 01:32 UT   16 42 12.7   +56 41 31    12.217   12.389   97.7    4.5   270   31.3 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   16 42 09.1   +56 46 34    12.219   12.394   97.9    4.5   269   31.3 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   16 42 04.6   +56 51 57    12.222   12.400   98.1    4.5   268   31.3 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   16 41 59.5   +56 57 21    12.225   12.406   98.2    4.5   267   31.3 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   16 41 53.8   +57 02 43    12.227   12.412   98.4    4.5   266   31.3 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   16 41 47.5   +57 08 06    12.230   12.418   98.6    4.5   265   31.3 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   16 41 40.5   +57 13 28    12.233   12.424   98.8    4.5   264   31.3 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   16 41 32.8   +57 18 49    12.236   12.430   99.0    4.5   263   31.3 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   16 41 24.5   +57 24 09    12.239   12.436   99.1    4.5   262   31.3 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   16 41 15.6   +57 29 29    12.242   12.442   99.3    4.5   261   31.3 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   16 41 06.0   +57 34 48    12.245   12.448   99.5    4.5   260   31.3 

    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.