C/2022 P3 (ZTF)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion27 Jul 202218.92.563 AU3.289 AU05h44m+23°28'37.8°14.0°269°
Nearest approach30 Nov 202218.32.887 AU2.252 AU08h31m+65°13'121.1°17.0°254°
Today29 Mar 202422.26.312 AU5.841 AU14h50m+56°24'113.9°8.3°218°
C/2022 P3 (ZTF)- 2024-03-29
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
-1 month
-1 week
-1 day
Now
+1 day
+1 week
+1 month

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 P3 (ZTF) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9898350
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5627140
            i (Inclination)                 : 59.51680
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 72.21990
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 0.14520
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 72.29356
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.12513
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459787.94850
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 4003.03

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 28
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-HD1

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (9.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 14.14 + 5 log[∆] + 5.30 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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   14 50 25.5   +56 23 22     5.838    6.309  113.9    8.3   219   22.2 
2024-03-29 10:43 UT   14 50 04.8   +56 24 39     5.841    6.312  113.9    8.3   218   22.2 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   14 49 38.9   +56 26 12     5.846    6.316  113.9    8.3   217   22.2 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   14 48 51.6   +56 28 52     5.854    6.324  113.8    8.3   216   22.2 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   14 48 03.6   +56 31 24     5.862    6.331  113.8    8.3   215   22.2 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   14 47 15.1   +56 33 46     5.870    6.338  113.7    8.3   213   22.2 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   14 46 25.9   +56 35 59     5.878    6.346  113.7    8.3   212   22.2 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   14 45 36.1   +56 38 02     5.886    6.353  113.6    8.3   211   22.2 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   14 44 45.8   +56 39 56     5.895    6.361  113.5    8.3   210   22.3 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   14 43 55.1   +56 41 39     5.904    6.368  113.4    8.3   208   22.3 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   14 43 03.8   +56 43 13     5.912    6.375  113.3    8.3   207   22.3 
2024-04-08 00:00 UT   14 42 12.1   +56 44 37     5.921    6.383  113.2    8.3   206   22.3 


    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.