C/2022 U3 (Bok)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	28 Jul 2024	19.3	4.829 AU	5.760 AU	07h02m	+18°24'	21.4°	4.4°	265°
Nearest approach	12 Jan 2025	18.7	5.002 AU	4.078 AU	07h55m	+00°08'	157.8°	4.3°	347°
Today	24 Sep 2026	22.1	7.601 AU	8.452 AU	10h54m	-25°24'	30.1°	3.8°	216°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.7 + 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 U3 (Bok) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9993300
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.8290120
    i (Inclination)                 : 33.66130
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 272.78780
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 189.16560
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 280.43658
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.06529
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460520.15640
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 611892.63

    Epoch                           : 2026 Sep 23
    Reference                       : MPC194182

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-23 00:00 UT   10 53 23.4   -25 17 18     8.447    7.594   29.9    3.8   214   22.1 
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   10 54 01.0   -25 22 11     8.450    7.599   30.0    3.8   216   22.1 
2026-09-24 09:26 UT   10 54 15.7   -25 24 07     8.452    7.601   30.1    3.8   216   22.1 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   10 54 38.5   -25 27 07     8.454    7.604   30.2    3.8   217   22.1 
2026-09-26 00:00 UT   10 55 15.7   -25 32 04     8.458    7.610   30.3    3.8   219   22.1 
2026-09-27 00:00 UT   10 55 52.9   -25 37 03     8.461    7.615   30.5    3.8   221   22.1 
2026-09-28 00:00 UT   10 56 29.9   -25 42 05     8.464    7.620   30.7    3.9   222   22.1 
2026-09-29 00:00 UT   10 57 06.7   -25 47 08     8.467    7.626   30.9    3.9   224   22.1 
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   10 57 43.4   -25 52 13     8.470    7.631   31.2    3.9   225   22.1 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   10 58 19.9   -25 57 20     8.473    7.636   31.4    3.9   227   22.1 
2026-10-02 00:00 UT   10 58 56.3   -26 02 28     8.475    7.642   31.7    3.9   228   22.1 
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   10 59 32.5   -26 07 39     8.477    7.647   31.9    4.0   230   22.1 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   11 00 08.5   -26 12 51     8.479    7.652   32.2    4.0   231   22.1 

    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.