C/2022 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2022	18.7	1.597 AU	2.292 AU	22h09m	-46°58'	35.7°	21.2°	180°
Nearest approach	13 Jun 2022	18.8	2.171 AU	1.250 AU	19h28m	-08°11'	146.6°	14.9°	240°
Today	3 Apr 2026	31.3	12.567 AU	12.328 AU	16h35m	+59°16'	101.6°	4.5°	238°

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)                : 0.9662920
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5969420
    i (Inclination)                 : 105.95990
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 280.80620
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 305.56210
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.84312
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -51.45595
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459630.06240
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 326.09

    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
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   16 35 59.4   +59 10 26    12.322   12.560  101.5    4.5   240   31.3 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   16 35 36.9   +59 15 04    12.327   12.566  101.6    4.5   239   31.3 
2026-04-03 04:52 UT   16 35 32.2   +59 16 00    12.328   12.567  101.6    4.5   238   31.3 
2026-04-04 00:00 UT   16 35 13.7   +59 19 40    12.332   12.572  101.6    4.5   237   31.3 
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   16 34 49.8   +59 24 12    12.337   12.578  101.7    4.5   236   31.4 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   16 34 25.4   +59 28 42    12.342   12.584  101.7    4.5   235   31.4 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   16 34 00.4   +59 33 08    12.347   12.590  101.8    4.5   234   31.4 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   16 33 34.7   +59 37 30    12.353   12.596  101.8    4.5   233   31.4 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   16 33 08.5   +59 41 50    12.358   12.602  101.8    4.5   232   31.4 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   16 32 41.7   +59 46 05    12.364   12.608  101.8    4.5   231   31.4 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   16 32 14.2   +59 50 18    12.369   12.614  101.8    4.5   230   31.4 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   16 31 46.2   +59 54 26    12.375   12.619  101.9    4.5   229   31.4 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   16 31 17.7   +59 58 31    12.381   12.625  101.9    4.5   227   31.4 

    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.