C/2024 G5 (Leonard) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 11 Feb 2024 | 20.7 | 3.591 AU | 2.723 AU | 08h11m | +41°13' | 147.1° | 8.6° | 139° |
Perihelion | 7 Sep 2024 | 20.7 | 2.953 AU | 3.897 AU | 10h15m | -07°10' | 17.8° | 6.0° | 222° |
Today | 16 Oct 2025 | 23.5 | 4.829 AU | 5.345 AU | 14h49m | -60°29' | 54.1° | 9.6° | 153° |
C/2024 G5 (Leonard)- 2025-10-16
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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. (13.0 + 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/2024 G5 (Leonard) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9949690
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.9531770
i (Inclination) : 50.38750
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 316.38850
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 209.58880
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 336.29067
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -22.35779
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2460560.58780
P (Orbital period in years) : 14221.74
Epoch : 2025 Oct 15
Reference : MPEC 2024-JC6
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
2025-10-16 00:00 UT 14 49 34.9 -60 29 29 5.343 4.828 54.2 9.6 153 23.5
2025-10-16 02:35 UT 14 49 48.6 -60 29 36 5.345 4.829 54.1 9.6 153 23.5
2025-10-17 00:00 UT 14 51 42.0 -60 30 35 5.357 4.835 53.7 9.6 154 23.5
2025-10-18 00:00 UT 14 53 49.1 -60 31 41 5.370 4.842 53.3 9.5 154 23.5
2025-10-19 00:00 UT 14 55 56.2 -60 32 48 5.384 4.849 52.9 9.4 155 23.5
2025-10-20 00:00 UT 14 58 03.4 -60 33 55 5.397 4.855 52.5 9.4 155 23.5
2025-10-21 00:00 UT 15 00 10.6 -60 35 02 5.411 4.862 52.0 9.3 155 23.5
2025-10-22 00:00 UT 15 02 17.9 -60 36 09 5.424 4.869 51.6 9.2 156 23.5
2025-10-23 00:00 UT 15 04 25.1 -60 37 17 5.437 4.876 51.2 9.2 156 23.6
2025-10-24 00:00 UT 15 06 32.4 -60 38 24 5.450 4.883 50.8 9.1 157 23.6
2025-10-25 00:00 UT 15 08 39.7 -60 39 32 5.463 4.890 50.4 9.0 157 23.6
2025-10-26 00:00 UT 15 10 47.0 -60 40 40 5.476 4.897 50.0 8.9 158 23.6
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.