C/2025 L2
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	25 Jul 2025	18.5	3.205 AU	2.265 AU	22h05m	-31°14'	153.2°	8.2°	289°
Nearest approach	14 Aug 2025	18.3	3.116 AU	2.178 AU	21h40m	-40°59'	153.4°	8.4°	357°
Perihelion	20 Dec 2025	18.8	2.834 AU	3.338 AU	21h24m	-60°18'	51.6°	15.8°	112°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2025 L2 are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9942850
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.8335060
            i (Inclination)                 : 86.58110
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 134.98430
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 232.64820
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 139.45211
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -52.51479
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461030.17880
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 11039.82

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 23
            Reference                       : MPC185661

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. 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. (11.70 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   22 05 25.7   -31 10 50     2.267    3.205  153.1    8.3   289   18.5 
2025-07-25 03:16 UT   22 05 18.1   -31 14 46     2.265    3.205  153.2    8.2   289   18.5 
2025-07-26 00:00 UT   22 04 29.1   -31 39 52     2.258    3.201  153.8    8.1   291   18.5 
2025-07-27 00:00 UT   22 03 30.5   -32 09 01     2.250    3.196  154.4    7.9   294   18.5 
2025-07-28 00:00 UT   22 02 30.1   -32 38 16     2.242    3.192  155.0    7.7   297   18.5 
2025-07-29 00:00 UT   22 01 27.9   -33 07 35     2.235    3.187  155.5    7.6   300   18.5 
2025-07-30 00:00 UT   22 00 23.9   -33 36 59     2.228    3.182  156.0    7.5   304   18.5 
2025-07-31 00:00 UT   21 59 18.0   -34 06 25     2.222    3.178  156.4    7.3   307   18.5 
2025-08-01 00:00 UT   21 58 10.4   -34 35 52     2.216    3.174  156.7    7.3   310   18.4 
2025-08-02 00:00 UT   21 57 00.9   -35 05 20     2.210    3.169  157.0    7.2   314   18.4 
2025-08-03 00:00 UT   21 55 49.7   -35 34 46     2.205    3.165  157.1    7.2   318   18.4 
2025-08-04 00:00 UT   21 54 36.7   -36 04 10     2.201    3.160  157.2    7.1   321   18.4 

    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.