Observation details: comet 243P/NEAT
Daily motion of 243P/NEAT
90001216 243P/NEAT will remain visible until May 13, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
243P/NEAT visibility on 2026-10-03
243P/NEAT Visible from before midnight until sunrise
243P/NEAT rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 18:15 | -27° |
Moonrise, 56.5% illuminated  | 21:14 | -1° |
| 243P/NEAT rise | 21:21 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:38 | 70° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:08 | 73° |
| 243P/NEAT transit | 04:28 | 74° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:39 | 73° |
| Sunrise | 05:06 | 72° |
| Moonset | 12:53 | -13° |
Track 243P/NEAT position throughout the night
← 3 October 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe 243P/NEAT changing position in the night sky.
243P/NEAT Description
This comet is designated 90001216 243P/NEAT, Encke-type comet. 243P/NEAT completes an orbit around the Sun in 7.5 years. It is currently 2.503 AU (374,441,974 km) from Earth, and is located in the constellation Orion.Current position in the Solar System: 243P/NEAT
| Date | Sat, 3 October 2026 |
| Distance from Earth | 2.50299 AU (374,441,974km) |
| Elongation | 98° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 19.6 |
Finder Chart for
Annual motion of 243P/NEAT
| Date | Sun, 4 October 2026 |
| Twilight start | 18:13 |
| Twilight end | 03:36 |
| Twilight duration | 9h 23m |
| Rise | 21:17 |
| Set | 11:31 |
| Elevation at transit | 74° |
| Transit time | 04:24 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 06h 10m 07s", Dec: 21° 00' 15s |
| Magnitude | 20 |
| Constellation | Orion |
The graph summarizes the object’s annual visibility, daily observing windows and transit times.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of 90001216 243P/NEAT
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 06h 09m 29s |
| Declination | 20° 59′ 13″ |
| Magnitude | 19.6 |
| Constellation | Orion |
| Elevation | -22.6° |
| Azimuth | 36.2° |
Acknowledgments
Orbital and small-body data are provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). These resources support accurate positions, orbits and physical characteristics.