C/2022 R3 (Leonard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	25 Nov 2022	19.4	5.192 AU	4.440 AU	02h39m	+62°43'	135.7°	7.6°	152°
Perihelion	5 Mar 2023	19.7	5.136 AU	5.220 AU	02h57m	+58°54'	79.7°	11.0°	59°
Today	25 Sep 2026	24.5	10.405 AU	11.386 AU	12h04m	+10°34'	11.4°	1.1°	356°

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)                : 1.0012650
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1361180
    i (Inclination)                 : 43.05350
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.27150
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.96870
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 75.52729
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 40.74865
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460009.32760

    Epoch                           : 2026 Sep 24
    Reference                       : MPC194181

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   12 03 37.8   +10 39 37    11.380   10.397   10.9    1.0     2   24.4 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   12 03 59.8   +10 36 11    11.384   10.402   11.2    1.1   358   24.5 
2026-09-25 12:13 UT   12 04 11.0   +10 34 26    11.386   10.405   11.4    1.1   356   24.5 
2026-09-26 00:00 UT   12 04 21.8   +10 32 46    11.388   10.408   11.6    1.1   354   24.5 
2026-09-27 00:00 UT   12 04 43.7   +10 29 22    11.391   10.413   12.1    1.2   350   24.5 
2026-09-28 00:00 UT   12 05 05.6   +10 25 59    11.394   10.418   12.6    1.2   347   24.5 
2026-09-29 00:00 UT   12 05 27.5   +10 22 38    11.397   10.424   13.1    1.2   344   24.5 
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   12 05 49.3   +10 19 17    11.399   10.429   13.7    1.3   341   24.5 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   12 06 11.1   +10 15 58    11.402   10.435   14.2    1.4   338   24.5 
2026-10-02 00:00 UT   12 06 32.9   +10 12 40    11.404   10.440   14.9    1.4   335   24.5 
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   12 06 54.6   +10 09 23    11.406   10.445   15.5    1.5   333   24.5 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   12 07 16.2   +10 06 07    11.407   10.451   16.2    1.5   331   24.5 
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   12 07 37.8   +10 02 53    11.409   10.456   16.9    1.6   329   24.5 

    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.