C/2022 K1 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Dec 2021	20.4	3.983 AU	4.842 AU	18h45m	-03°23'	26.1°	6.2°	39°
Nearest approach	28 Jul 2022	20.1	4.417 AU	3.426 AU	21h24m	-14°22'	165.7°	3.2°	249°
Today	27 Feb 2026	27.2	11.917 AU	12.495 AU	02h08m	-27°04'	52.4°	3.8°	101°

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)                : 1.0003960
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9825390
    i (Inclination)                 : 41.97810
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 136.37460
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 142.48170
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.65650
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.03768
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459564.83250

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 26
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ST7

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   02 08 08.7   -27 10 08    12.471   11.908   53.4    3.8    99   27.2 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   02 08 25.0   -27 06 45    12.486   11.913   52.8    3.8   100   27.2 
2026-02-27 15:58 UT   02 08 36.0   -27 04 31    12.495   11.917   52.4    3.8   101   27.2 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   02 08 41.6   -27 03 24    12.500   11.919   52.2    3.8   101   27.2 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   02 08 58.4   -27 00 03    12.515   11.925   51.6    3.7   102   27.3 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   02 09 15.4   -26 56 44    12.529   11.931   51.0    3.7   103   27.3 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   02 09 32.7   -26 53 25    12.543   11.936   50.4    3.7   104   27.3 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   02 09 50.2   -26 50 08    12.557   11.942   49.9    3.6   105   27.3 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   02 10 07.9   -26 46 53    12.570   11.948   49.3    3.6   106   27.3 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   02 10 25.8   -26 43 38    12.584   11.954   48.8    3.6   107   27.3 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   02 10 43.9   -26 40 25    12.597   11.959   48.2    3.5   108   27.3 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   02 11 02.2   -26 37 13    12.610   11.965   47.7    3.5   109   27.3 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   02 11 20.7   -26 34 03    12.623   11.971   47.2    3.5   110   27.3 

    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.