C/2024 N3 (Sarneczky)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	11 Dec 2024	18.0	5.100 AU	4.889 AU	17h46m	+73°40'	96.8°	11.1°	7°
Perihelion	11 Apr 2025	18.0	5.015 AU	5.121 AU	20h06m	+71°22'	78.3°	11.3°	278°
Today	25 Feb 2026	18.8	5.576 AU	5.793 AU	18h18m	+29°41'	72.5°	9.7°	292°

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 7.5 + 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 C/2024 N3 (Sarneczky) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0020070
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.0147270
    i (Inclination)                 : 88.72770
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 82.61140
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 86.89710
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 104.88546
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 86.64662
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460777.06290

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 24
    Reference                       : MPC191588

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   18 18 04.9   +29 38 55     5.802    5.571   71.7    9.7   293   18.8 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   18 18 23.1   +29 40 34     5.797    5.574   72.2    9.7   292   18.8 
2026-02-25 16:48 UT   18 18 35.4   +29 41 46     5.793    5.576   72.5    9.7   292   18.8 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   18 18 40.6   +29 42 17     5.792    5.577   72.7    9.8   291   18.8 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   18 18 57.5   +29 44 04     5.786    5.581   73.2    9.8   291   18.8 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   18 19 13.6   +29 45 55     5.781    5.584   73.7    9.8   290   18.8 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   18 19 29.1   +29 47 49     5.775    5.587   74.2    9.8   289   18.8 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   18 19 43.8   +29 49 46     5.769    5.590   74.7    9.8   288   18.8 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   18 19 57.8   +29 51 47     5.764    5.594   75.2    9.9   287   18.8 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   18 20 11.1   +29 53 51     5.758    5.597   75.8    9.9   286   18.8 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   18 20 23.7   +29 55 58     5.752    5.600   76.3    9.9   286   18.8 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   18 20 35.6   +29 58 08     5.746    5.604   76.8    9.9   285   18.8 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   18 20 46.7   +30 00 21     5.740    5.607   77.4    9.9   284   18.8 

    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.