C/2022 R3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	25 Nov 2022	19.4	5.190 AU	4.438 AU	02h39m	+62°41'	135.7°	7.6°	152°
Perihelion	5 Mar 2023	19.7	5.133 AU	5.219 AU	02h57m	+58°53'	79.6°	11.0°	59°
Today	28 Oct 2025	23.2	8.632 AU	9.290 AU	11h58m	+19°06'	46.2°	4.8°	312°

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. (9.0 + 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 R3 (Leonard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0015490
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1331460
    i (Inclination)                 : 43.06670
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.26360
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.94610
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 75.48621
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 40.75485
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460009.47960

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 28
    Reference                       : MPC184410

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   11 57 48.7   +19 11 32     9.300    8.622   44.7    4.6   313   23.2 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   11 58 12.6   +19 08 45     9.295    8.628   45.5    4.7   312   23.2 
2025-10-28 21:47 UT   11 58 34.1   +19 06 15     9.290    8.632   46.2    4.8   312   23.2 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   11 58 36.2   +19 05 60     9.289    8.633   46.3    4.8   312   23.2 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   11 58 59.7   +19 03 17     9.283    8.638   47.1    4.8   311   23.2 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   11 59 22.8   +19 00 38     9.277    8.643   47.9    4.9   311   23.2 
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   11 59 45.8   +18 58 02     9.271    8.649   48.7    4.9   311   23.2 
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   12 00 08.4   +18 55 28     9.264    8.654   49.6    5.0   310   23.2 
2025-11-03 00:00 UT   12 00 30.9   +18 52 57     9.258    8.659   50.4    5.1   310   23.2 
2025-11-04 00:00 UT   12 00 53.0   +18 50 29     9.251    8.664   51.2    5.1   309   23.2 
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   12 01 14.9   +18 48 04     9.244    8.670   52.1    5.2   309   23.2 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   12 01 36.6   +18 45 42     9.237    8.675   52.9    5.2   308   23.2 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   12 01 57.9   +18 43 23     9.229    8.680   53.7    5.3   308   23.2 

    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.