C/2022 K1 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Dec 2021	20.4	3.986 AU	4.848 AU	18h45m	-03°25'	26.0°	6.2°	38°
Nearest approach	28 Jul 2022	20.1	4.419 AU	3.428 AU	21h24m	-14°22'	165.8°	3.2°	249°
Today	11 May 2025	26.3	10.208 AU	10.882 AU	02h02m	-24°48'	46.1°	4.1°	204°

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 C/2022 K1 (Leonard) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0009270
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9862900
            i (Inclination)                 : 41.97360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 136.35750
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 142.55490
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.70288
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 23.99292
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459565.15660

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 10
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ST7

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

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. (11.00 + 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 02 28.8   -24 49 18    10.883   10.204   45.8    4.1   203   26.3 
2025-05-11 15:30 UT   02 02 46.7   -24 48 59    10.882   10.208   46.1    4.1   204   26.3 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   02 02 56.4   -24 48 49    10.881   10.210   46.3    4.1   204   26.3 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   02 03 24.0   -24 48 23    10.880   10.216   46.9    4.1   205   26.3 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   02 03 51.4   -24 48 01    10.878   10.222   47.4    4.2   206   26.3 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   02 04 18.6   -24 47 42    10.877   10.228   48.0    4.2   207   26.3 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   02 04 45.8   -24 47 27    10.875   10.234   48.6    4.2   208   26.3 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   02 05 12.8   -24 47 14    10.873   10.240   49.1    4.3   208   26.3 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   02 05 39.7   -24 47 05    10.870   10.246   49.7    4.3   209   26.3 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   02 06 06.5   -24 46 60    10.868   10.252   50.3    4.4   210   26.3 
2025-05-20 00:00 UT   02 06 33.1   -24 46 57    10.866   10.258   50.9    4.4   211   26.3 
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   02 06 59.6   -24 46 59    10.863   10.264   51.5    4.4   212   26.3 

    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.