C/2022 A1 (Sarneczky)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Jan 2022	16.7	1.303 AU	0.323 AU	06h35m	+24°33'	169.8°	7.7°	101°
Perihelion	31 Jan 2022	18.5	1.257 AU	0.801 AU	03h07m	-14°26'	88.8°	51.6°	72°
Today	19 Jan 2026	34.8	12.899 AU	13.852 AU	19h47m	-33°36'	13.9°	1.1°	198°

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. (18.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2022 A1 (Sarneczky) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9966940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2566810
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.57960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 285.49070
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 201.29690
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 275.59659
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -18.95439
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459610.73380
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 7411.11

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-YN2

    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
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   19 47 20.0   -33 38 21    13.843   12.888   13.2    1.0   191   34.8 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   19 47 38.9   -33 37 15    13.848   12.894   13.6    1.0   195   34.8 
2026-01-19 18:26 UT   19 47 53.4   -33 36 25    13.852   12.899   13.9    1.1   198   34.8 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   19 47 57.8   -33 36 10    13.853   12.901   14.0    1.1   199   34.8 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   19 48 16.6   -33 35 06    13.857   12.907   14.5    1.1   202   34.8 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   19 48 35.4   -33 34 02    13.861   12.913   15.0    1.1   205   34.8 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   19 48 54.1   -33 32 60    13.865   12.920   15.6    1.2   208   34.8 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   19 49 12.7   -33 31 59    13.868   12.926   16.2    1.2   211   34.8 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   19 49 31.3   -33 30 58    13.872   12.933   16.8    1.3   213   34.8 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   19 49 49.8   -33 29 59    13.874   12.939   17.4    1.3   215   34.8 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   19 50 08.2   -33 29 00    13.877   12.945   18.1    1.4   218   34.8 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   19 50 26.5   -33 28 02    13.879   12.952   18.8    1.4   220   34.8 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   19 50 44.8   -33 27 06    13.882   12.958   19.5    1.5   221   34.8 

    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.