C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	12 Jan 2023	6.9	1.118 AU	0.713 AU	15h43m	+38°42'	80.7°	60.3°	308°
Nearest approach	1 Feb 2023	5.1	1.165 AU	0.285 AU	06h39m	+70°28'	122.8°	45.3°	140°
Today	19 Aug 2026	23.6	12.190 AU	11.773 AU	02h22m	-61°03'	112.1°	4.4°	284°

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 7.2 + 5 log[∆] + 10.2 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 E3 (ZTF) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000590
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.1176000
    i (Inclination)                 : 109.18080
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 302.48880
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 145.88670
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 315.03585
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.98502
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459956.75800

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 13
    Reference                       : MPC194179

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   02 23 17.0   -60 55 41    11.767   12.180  111.8    4.4   282   23.6 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   02 22 59.0   -61 00 28    11.771   12.187  112.0    4.4   283   23.6 
2026-08-19 13:12 UT   02 22 48.9   -61 03 06    11.773   12.190  112.1    4.4   284   23.6 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   02 22 40.4   -61 05 14    11.775   12.193  112.2    4.4   284   23.6 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   02 22 21.0   -61 09 58    11.779   12.200  112.3    4.4   286   23.6 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   02 22 00.9   -61 14 40    11.784   12.207  112.5    4.4   287   23.6 
2026-08-23 00:00 UT   02 21 40.1   -61 19 21    11.788   12.213  112.6    4.4   288   23.6 
2026-08-24 00:00 UT   02 21 18.6   -61 23 60    11.793   12.220  112.8    4.4   289   23.6 
2026-08-25 00:00 UT   02 20 56.4   -61 28 36    11.797   12.226  112.9    4.4   290   23.6 
2026-08-26 00:00 UT   02 20 33.5   -61 33 11    11.802   12.233  113.0    4.4   291   23.6 
2026-08-27 00:00 UT   02 20 10.0   -61 37 44    11.807   12.240  113.1    4.4   292   23.6 
2026-08-28 00:00 UT   02 19 45.7   -61 42 14    11.813   12.246  113.2    4.3   294   23.6 
2026-08-29 00:00 UT   02 19 20.7   -61 46 42    11.818   12.253  113.3    4.3   295   23.6 

    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.