C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	15 Feb 2014	8.3	1.612 AU	2.104 AU	18h51m	+00°35'	47.5°	26.9°	288°
Nearest approach	28 Jun 2014	9.2	2.358 AU	1.630 AU	22h39m	-31°05'	124.4°	20.8°	262°
Today	20 Apr 2026	25.0	27.659 AU	28.388 AU	03h34m	-23°14'	42.8°	1.4°	142°

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. (4.8 + 5 log[∆] + 9.0 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/2012 X1 (LINEAR) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9898360
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6117580
    i (Inclination)                 : 44.26710
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.48410
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 132.00110
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 74.98986
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.24571
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456704.14610
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1996.88

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 19
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   03 34 03.2   -23 15 58    28.375   27.652   43.2    1.4   139   25.0 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   03 34 11.5   -23 14 56    28.383   27.657   43.0    1.4   141   25.0 
2026-04-20 15:08 UT   03 34 16.7   -23 14 17    28.388   27.659   42.8    1.4   142   25.0 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   03 34 19.8   -23 13 55    28.390   27.661   42.7    1.4   142   25.0 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   03 34 28.3   -23 12 55    28.398   27.665   42.5    1.4   143   25.0 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   03 34 36.7   -23 11 57    28.405   27.669   42.3    1.4   145   25.0 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   03 34 45.3   -23 10 59    28.412   27.674   42.0    1.4   146   25.0 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   03 34 53.9   -23 10 03    28.418   27.678   41.9    1.4   148   25.0 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   03 35 02.5   -23 09 08    28.425   27.682   41.7    1.4   149   25.0 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   03 35 11.2   -23 08 14    28.431   27.687   41.5    1.4   150   25.0 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   03 35 19.9   -23 07 22    28.437   27.691   41.4    1.4   152   25.1 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   03 35 28.7   -23 06 30    28.443   27.695   41.3    1.4   153   25.1 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   03 35 37.5   -23 05 40    28.449   27.699   41.2    1.4   155   25.1 

    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.