C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Feb 2014	8.2	1.610 AU	2.037 AU	18h58m	+01°26'	51.0°	28.5°	285°
Nearest approach	27 Jun 2014	9.0	2.296 AU	1.554 AU	22h30m	-30°30'	125.3°	21.2°	262°
Today	4 Aug 2025	24.7	26.550 AU	26.586 AU	03h44m	-23°56'	86.8°	2.2°	250°

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/2012 X1 (LINEAR) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9904900
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6099410
            i (Inclination)                 : 44.36210
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 112.87210
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 132.46610
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 74.87720
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.04939
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456710.02210
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 2202.64

            Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
            Reference                       : MPC108592

            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. (4.80 + 5 log[∆] + 9.00 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
2025-08-04 00:00 UT   03 44 40.0   -23 55 16    26.591   26.547   86.4    2.2   249   24.7 
2025-08-04 15:18 UT   03 44 42.0   -23 56 05    26.586   26.550   86.8    2.2   250   24.7 
2025-08-05 00:00 UT   03 44 43.0   -23 56 33    26.583   26.551   87.1    2.2   250   24.7 
2025-08-06 00:00 UT   03 44 45.9   -23 57 51    26.575   26.556   87.8    2.2   251   24.7 
2025-08-07 00:00 UT   03 44 48.6   -23 59 10    26.567   26.560   88.5    2.2   251   24.7 
2025-08-08 00:00 UT   03 44 51.2   -24 00 29    26.559   26.565   89.2    2.2   252   24.7 
2025-08-09 00:00 UT   03 44 53.6   -24 01 49    26.551   26.569   89.9    2.2   252   24.7 
2025-08-10 00:00 UT   03 44 55.9   -24 03 10    26.543   26.573   90.6    2.2   253   24.7 
2025-08-11 00:00 UT   03 44 58.0   -24 04 32    26.535   26.578   91.3    2.2   254   24.7 
2025-08-12 00:00 UT   03 44 60.0   -24 05 54    26.527   26.582   92.0    2.2   254   24.7 
2025-08-13 00:00 UT   03 45 01.8   -24 07 17    26.519   26.586   92.7    2.2   255   24.7 
2025-08-14 00:00 UT   03 45 03.4   -24 08 40    26.511   26.591   93.4    2.2   256   24.7 

    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.