C/2022 P3 (ZTF)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Jul 2022	18.9	2.569 AU	3.296 AU	05h44m	+23°33'	37.8°	14.0°	269°
Nearest approach	30 Nov 2022	18.4	2.893 AU	2.256 AU	08h31m	+65°14'	121.2°	17.0°	253°
Today	29 Apr 2026	25.0	11.484 AU	10.802 AU	15h21m	+32°59'	130.7°	3.8°	198°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 14.1 + 5 log[∆] + 5.4 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 P3 (ZTF) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9904240
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5692490
    i (Inclination)                 : 59.50850
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 72.23290
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 0.25860
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 72.36412
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.22284
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459787.98360
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 4394.74

    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
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   15 22 10.5   +32 58 19    10.791   11.474  130.8    3.8   200   25.0 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   15 21 48.2   +32 59 12    10.797   11.480  130.7    3.8   199   25.0 
2026-04-29 17:06 UT   15 21 32.3   +32 59 47    10.802   11.484  130.7    3.8   198   25.0 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   15 21 25.9   +33 00 00    10.804   11.486  130.7    3.8   197   25.0 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   15 21 03.4   +33 00 45    10.811   11.493  130.6    3.8   196   25.0 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   15 20 40.9   +33 01 24    10.818   11.499  130.6    3.8   194   25.0 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   15 20 18.4   +33 01 60    10.825   11.505  130.5    3.8   193   25.0 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   15 19 55.8   +33 02 31    10.832   11.511  130.4    3.8   192   25.0 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   15 19 33.1   +33 02 57    10.840   11.517  130.2    3.8   190   25.0 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   15 19 10.4   +33 03 20    10.848   11.524  130.1    3.8   189   25.0 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   15 18 47.7   +33 03 37    10.856   11.530  130.0    3.8   188   25.0 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   15 18 25.0   +33 03 51    10.864   11.536  129.8    3.9   186   25.0 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   15 18 02.3   +33 03 60    10.872   11.542  129.6    3.9   185   25.0 

    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.