C/2021 A10 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	9 Feb 2021	19.1	1.363 AU	0.576 AU	12h35m	+68°08'	119.0°	39.3°	233°
Perihelion	14 Mar 2021	20.6	1.268 AU	1.309 AU	02h59m	+45°00'	65.2°	45.4°	58°
Today	28 Apr 2026	36.8	15.195 AU	15.453 AU	22h24m	-32°24'	73.4°	3.6°	241°

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. (19.0 + 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/2021 A10 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9849250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2684530
    i (Inclination)                 : 152.04090
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 188.91910
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 82.68210
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 107.19138
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 27.71167
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459288.03380
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 771.84

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   22 24 34.3   -32 23 02    15.467   15.187   72.0    3.6   240   36.8 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   22 24 40.6   -32 24 01    15.458   15.192   72.9    3.6   240   36.8 
2026-04-28 12:57 UT   22 24 43.8   -32 24 34    15.453   15.195   73.4    3.6   241   36.8 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   22 24 46.5   -32 25 02    15.448   15.198   73.8    3.6   241   36.8 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   22 24 52.3   -32 26 05    15.438   15.204   74.7    3.7   241   36.8 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   22 24 57.8   -32 27 10    15.429   15.209   75.5    3.7   241   36.8 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   22 25 03.0   -32 28 16    15.419   15.215   76.4    3.7   242   36.8 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   22 25 08.0   -32 29 25    15.409   15.221   77.3    3.7   242   36.8 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   22 25 12.7   -32 30 35    15.399   15.226   78.2    3.7   242   36.8 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   22 25 17.2   -32 31 47    15.389   15.232   79.1    3.7   243   36.8 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   22 25 21.4   -32 33 01    15.379   15.238   80.0    3.7   243   36.8 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   22 25 25.3   -32 34 17    15.369   15.243   80.9    3.7   243   36.8 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   22 25 29.0   -32 35 34    15.359   15.249   81.8    3.8   244   36.8 

    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.