P/2022 W1 (Rankin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	15 Sep 2022	20.2	3.375 AU	3.065 AU	04h45m	+26°54'	99.2°	17.1°	262°
Nearest approach	29 Nov 2022	19.8	3.412 AU	2.440 AU	04h36m	+32°12'	168.7°	3.3°	199°
Today	25 Feb 2026	25.3	7.397 AU	6.543 AU	12h44m	+04°47'	147.5°	4.1°	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. (12.5 + 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 P/2022 W1 (Rankin) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.5162130
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.3754720
    i (Inclination)                 : 13.46130
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 38.83940
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 17.96200
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 56.33844
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.11673
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459838.43630
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 18.43

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 24
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-CD7

    Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
    Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.675

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   12 44 38.2   +04 43 39     6.554    7.392  145.6    4.3   280   25.3 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   12 44 19.9   +04 45 48     6.548    7.395  146.7    4.2   280   25.3 
2026-02-25 17:57 UT   12 44 06.0   +04 47 25     6.543    7.397  147.5    4.1   279   25.3 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   12 44 01.3   +04 47 58     6.542    7.398  147.7    4.1   279   25.3 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   12 43 42.3   +04 50 09     6.536    7.401  148.8    4.0   279   25.3 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   12 43 23.0   +04 52 20     6.531    7.404  149.8    3.9   278   25.3 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   12 43 03.3   +04 54 33     6.526    7.407  150.9    3.7   277   25.3 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   12 42 43.3   +04 56 46     6.522    7.410  151.9    3.6   276   25.3 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   12 42 23.0   +04 59 01     6.517    7.414  152.9    3.5   276   25.3 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   12 42 02.3   +05 01 15     6.513    7.417  154.0    3.4   275   25.3 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   12 41 41.4   +05 03 30     6.509    7.420  155.0    3.2   274   25.3 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   12 41 20.1   +05 05 46     6.506    7.423  156.0    3.1   273   25.3 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   12 40 58.6   +05 08 01     6.502    7.426  157.0    3.0   272   25.3 

    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.