C/2022 R3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	25 Nov 2022	19.4	5.191 AU	4.438 AU	02h39m	+62°41'	135.7°	7.6°	152°
Perihelion	5 Mar 2023	19.7	5.134 AU	5.220 AU	02h57m	+58°53'	79.6°	11.0°	59°
Today	27 Jan 2026	23.2	9.113 AU	8.447 AU	12h09m	+18°16'	130.1°	4.7°	279°

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)                : 1.0015010
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1339230
    i (Inclination)                 : 43.06310
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.26630
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.95320
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 75.49915
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 40.75341
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460009.47510

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 26
    Reference                       : MPC184410

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   12 10 03.8   +18 15 01     8.458    9.105  128.6    4.9   280   23.2 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   12 09 52.2   +18 16 13     8.451    9.110  129.5    4.8   279   23.2 
2026-01-27 14:12 UT   12 09 45.1   +18 16 56     8.447    9.113  130.1    4.7   279   23.2 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   12 09 40.1   +18 17 26     8.445    9.116  130.5    4.7   279   23.2 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   12 09 27.7   +18 18 40     8.438    9.121  131.5    4.6   278   23.2 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   12 09 14.8   +18 19 55     8.432    9.126  132.5    4.6   278   23.2 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   12 09 01.5   +18 21 10     8.426    9.132  133.5    4.5   277   23.2 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   12 08 47.8   +18 22 26     8.420    9.137  134.4    4.4   276   23.2 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   12 08 33.8   +18 23 43     8.414    9.142  135.4    4.3   276   23.2 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   12 08 19.3   +18 25 00     8.408    9.148  136.4    4.3   275   23.2 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   12 08 04.5   +18 26 18     8.403    9.153  137.4    4.2   274   23.2 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   12 07 49.3   +18 27 36     8.398    9.158  138.3    4.1   274   23.2 
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   12 07 33.7   +18 28 55     8.393    9.164  139.3    4.0   273   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.