C/2021 A2 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	22 Jan 2021	11.4	1.413 AU	0.627 AU	09h06m	-38°05'	121.1°	36.6°	346°
Nearest approach	2 Feb 2021	11.1	1.424 AU	0.506 AU	07h27m	-10°58'	143.3°	24.5°	42°
Today	27 Jul 2024	55.7	11.657 AU	11.212 AU	20h46m	+46°59'	113.6°	4.6°	185°

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/2021 A2 (NEOWISE) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9938110
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4133120
            i (Inclination)                 : 107.02360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 125.11770
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 338.77070
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 131.60599
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -20.25724
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459236.63090
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 3450.85

            Epoch                           : 2024 Jul 25
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-F14

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (13.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 6.21 + 5 log[∆] + 41.49 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.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-07-27 00:00 UT   20 46 34.6   +46 59 02    11.212   11.657  113.6    4.6   185   55.7 
2024-07-27 00:24 UT   20 46 34.1   +46 59 01    11.212   11.657  113.6    4.6   185   55.7 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   20 46 04.9   +46 57 53    11.214   11.664  113.9    4.6   184   55.7 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   20 45 35.2   +46 56 39    11.216   11.670  114.2    4.6   183   55.7 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   20 45 05.6   +46 55 19    11.218   11.677  114.5    4.5   182   55.7 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   20 44 35.9   +46 53 54    11.220   11.683  114.8    4.5   181   55.8 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   20 44 06.3   +46 52 24    11.223   11.690  115.1    4.5   180   55.8 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   20 43 36.7   +46 50 49    11.225   11.696  115.4    4.5   179   55.8 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   20 43 07.1   +46 49 09    11.228   11.703  115.6    4.5   177   55.8 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   20 42 37.6   +46 47 23    11.231   11.710  115.9    4.5   176   55.8 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   20 42 08.2   +46 45 32    11.234   11.716  116.1    4.5   175   55.8 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   20 41 38.9   +46 43 36    11.237   11.723  116.3    4.4   174   55.8 

    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.