C/2022 K1 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Dec 2021	20.4	3.982 AU	4.842 AU	18h44m	-03°24'	26.1°	6.3°	39°
Nearest approach	28 Jul 2022	20.1	4.417 AU	3.426 AU	21h24m	-14°24'	165.7°	3.2°	249°
Today	29 Mar 2026	27.4	12.089 AU	12.849 AU	02h18m	-25°35'	38.9°	3.0°	134°

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. (11.0 + 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 K1 (Leonard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0002510
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9820890
    i (Inclination)                 : 41.97910
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 136.33070
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 142.51520
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.64284
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.01872
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459564.77950

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    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
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   02 17 48.1   -25 39 27    12.835   12.079   39.3    3.0   132   27.4 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   02 18 09.8   -25 36 52    12.844   12.085   39.0    3.0   133   27.4 
2026-03-29 15:09 UT   02 18 23.5   -25 35 15    12.849   12.089   38.9    3.0   134   27.4 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   02 18 31.6   -25 34 19    12.853   12.091   38.8    3.0   135   27.4 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   02 18 53.5   -25 31 48    12.862   12.097   38.5    2.9   136   27.4 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   02 19 15.5   -25 29 20    12.870   12.102   38.3    2.9   138   27.4 
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   02 19 37.6   -25 26 53    12.879   12.108   38.1    2.9   139   27.4 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   02 19 59.8   -25 24 29    12.887   12.114   37.9    2.9   140   27.4 
2026-04-04 00:00 UT   02 20 22.1   -25 22 07    12.895   12.120   37.7    2.9   142   27.4 
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   02 20 44.5   -25 19 47    12.903   12.125   37.5    2.9   143   27.4 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   02 21 07.0   -25 17 29    12.910   12.131   37.4    2.9   145   27.4 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   02 21 29.5   -25 15 13    12.918   12.137   37.3    2.9   146   27.4 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   02 21 52.2   -25 13 00    12.925   12.142   37.2    2.9   148   27.4 

    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.