473P/NEAT
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Nov 2023	16.0	2.008 AU	1.415 AU	23h38m	-38°48'	111.9°	27.3°	47°
Perihelion	26 Feb 2024	12.8	1.407 AU	1.911 AU	00h17m	+29°04'	45.5°	30.1°	37°
Today	13 Dec 2025	31.6	6.177 AU	6.718 AU	13h48m	-09°38'	53.1°	7.3°	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 7.7 + 5 log[∆] + 25.1 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 473P/NEAT are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8235680
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4068290
    i (Inclination)                 : 56.88420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 22.19140
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 42.94730
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 49.14588
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 34.79601
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460366.71080
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 22.52

    Epoch                           : 2025 Dec 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2025-W75

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-12-12 00:00 UT   13 47 24.5   -09 31 32     6.731    6.167   51.5    7.2   292   31.6 
2025-12-13 00:00 UT   13 47 45.9   -09 35 23     6.723    6.173   52.4    7.3   292   31.6 
2025-12-13 16:33 UT   13 48 00.3   -09 38 01     6.718    6.177   53.1    7.3   292   31.6 
2025-12-14 00:00 UT   13 48 06.8   -09 39 12     6.716    6.179   53.3    7.3   292   31.6 
2025-12-15 00:00 UT   13 48 27.3   -09 42 58     6.708    6.185   54.3    7.4   292   31.6 
2025-12-16 00:00 UT   13 48 47.5   -09 46 42     6.701    6.192   55.2    7.5   292   31.6 
2025-12-17 00:00 UT   13 49 07.1   -09 50 24     6.693    6.198   56.1    7.6   292   31.7 
2025-12-18 00:00 UT   13 49 26.4   -09 54 03     6.684    6.204   57.0    7.6   292   31.7 
2025-12-19 00:00 UT   13 49 45.2   -09 57 39     6.676    6.210   57.9    7.7   291   31.7 
2025-12-20 00:00 UT   13 50 03.6   -10 01 14     6.668    6.216   58.9    7.8   291   31.7 
2025-12-21 00:00 UT   13 50 21.5   -10 04 45     6.659    6.223   59.8    7.9   291   31.7 
2025-12-22 00:00 UT   13 50 38.9   -10 08 15     6.650    6.229   60.7    7.9   291   31.7 
2025-12-23 00:00 UT   13 50 55.9   -10 11 41     6.641    6.235   61.7    8.0   291   31.7 

    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.