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	9 May 2025	24.7	26.167 AU	26.916 AU	03h33m	-23°21'	41.4°	1.5°	170°

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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   03 33 37.4   -23 22 00    26.914   26.164   41.3    1.5   169   24.7 
2025-05-09 13:43 UT   03 33 42.9   -23 21 38    26.916   26.167   41.4    1.5   170   24.7 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   03 33 47.1   -23 21 22    26.917   26.169   41.4    1.5   170   24.7 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   03 33 56.8   -23 20 44    26.920   26.173   41.5    1.5   172   24.7 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   03 34 06.5   -23 20 09    26.923   26.178   41.6    1.5   173   24.7 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   03 34 16.2   -23 19 35    26.926   26.182   41.8    1.5   175   24.7 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   03 34 25.9   -23 19 02    26.929   26.187   42.0    1.5   176   24.7 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   03 34 35.7   -23 18 30    26.931   26.191   42.1    1.5   177   24.7 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   03 34 45.4   -23 18 01    26.933   26.195   42.3    1.5   179   24.7 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   03 34 55.1   -23 17 32    26.935   26.200   42.5    1.5   180   24.7 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   03 35 04.9   -23 17 05    26.937   26.204   42.8    1.5   181   24.7 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   03 35 14.6   -23 16 40    26.939   26.209   43.0    1.5   183   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.