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/2020 U3 (Rankin), as provided by the minor planet center, are:

            e (eccentricity)                : 0.9648470
            q (perihelion distance)         : 2.2761770
            i (inclination)                 : 30.17690
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 282.67900
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 124.26340
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 230.91751
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.54683
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459251.47810
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 521.03

            Epoch                           : 2021 Mar 01
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-BE3

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; External (a < 10000 AU)
        

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 the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (15.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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.