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	15 Mar 2026	27.3	12.006 AU	12.700 AU	02h13m	-26°15'	44.1°	3.3°	116°

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)                : 1.0002540
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9821230
    i (Inclination)                 : 41.97910
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 136.33060
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 142.51580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.64328
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.01837
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459564.78100

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 14
    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
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   02 12 58.9   -26 19 02    12.685   11.999   44.7    3.3   115   27.3 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   02 13 18.5   -26 16 01    12.697   12.005   44.2    3.3   116   27.3 
2026-03-15 05:11 UT   02 13 22.8   -26 15 22    12.700   12.006   44.1    3.3   116   27.3 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   02 13 38.4   -26 13 01    12.709   12.011   43.8    3.3   117   27.3 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   02 13 58.3   -26 10 03    12.720   12.016   43.3    3.3   118   27.3 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   02 14 18.5   -26 07 07    12.732   12.022   42.9    3.2   120   27.3 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   02 14 38.8   -26 04 12    12.743   12.028   42.5    3.2   121   27.3 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   02 14 59.3   -26 01 20    12.754   12.034   42.1    3.2   122   27.3 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   02 15 19.9   -25 58 29    12.765   12.039   41.7    3.2   123   27.3 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   02 15 40.7   -25 55 40    12.775   12.045   41.3    3.1   124   27.3 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   02 16 01.6   -25 52 53    12.786   12.051   40.9    3.1   126   27.3 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   02 16 22.6   -25 50 08    12.796   12.057   40.6    3.1   127   27.3 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   02 16 43.8   -25 47 25    12.806   12.062   40.2    3.1   128   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.