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C/2022 R3 (Leonard)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach25 Nov 202219.45.191 AU4.438 AU 02h39m+62°41'135.7°7.6°152°
Perihelion5 Mar 202319.75.134 AU5.220 AU 02h57m+58°53'79.6°11.0°59°
Today17 Feb 202623.39.226 AU8.356 AU 12h04m+18°44'150.1°3.1°261°
C/2022 R3 (Leonard)- 2026-02-17
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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)                : 1.0014920
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1341100
    i (Inclination)                 : 43.06220
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.26680
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.95490
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 75.50212
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 40.75303
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460009.47400

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 16
    Reference                       : MPC184410

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   12 04 39.1   +18 42 03     8.359    9.217  148.6    3.2   263   23.3 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   12 04 19.9   +18 43 20     8.357    9.222  149.5    3.1   262   23.3 
2026-02-17 14:58 UT   12 04 07.8   +18 44 08     8.356    9.226  150.1    3.1   261   23.3 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   12 04 00.4   +18 44 37     8.355    9.228  150.4    3.0   261   23.3 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   12 03 40.7   +18 45 53     8.354    9.233  151.3    3.0   259   23.3 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   12 03 20.7   +18 47 08     8.353    9.238  152.1    2.9   258   23.3 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   12 03 00.4   +18 48 22     8.352    9.244  152.9    2.8   257   23.3 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   12 02 40.0   +18 49 36     8.351    9.249  153.8    2.7   255   23.3 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   12 02 19.2   +18 50 48     8.351    9.254  154.6    2.6   253   23.3 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   12 01 58.3   +18 51 60     8.351    9.260  155.4    2.6   251   23.3 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   12 01 37.2   +18 53 10     8.351    9.265  156.1    2.5   249   23.3 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   12 01 15.8   +18 54 19     8.352    9.270  156.8    2.4   247   23.3 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   12 00 54.3   +18 55 26     8.353    9.276  157.6    2.3   245   23.3 




    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.

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