P/2021 A5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	22 Dec 2024	22.8	3.049 AU	3.962 AU	19h22m	-30°26'	19.0°	6.0°	107°
Nearest approach	9 Sep 2025	20.5	2.715 AU	1.715 AU	22h49m	+01°39'	171.2°	3.2°	142°
Perihelion	11 Mar 2026	21.9	2.621 AU	3.428 AU	00h48m	+18°20'	30.5°	11.1°	45°

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 P/2021 A5 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.1398910
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6206300
            i (Inclination)                 : 18.18770
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 328.81190
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 61.48470
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 29.04784
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 15.91829
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461110.55710
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 5.32

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 21
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-BE3

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Active asteroid
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 3.147
        

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 an 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.

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
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   19 21 44.1   -30 28 50     3.961    3.049   19.2    6.1   107   22.8 
2024-12-22 10:44 UT   19 22 29.7   -30 26 12     3.962    3.049   19.0    6.0   107   22.8 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   19 23 26.0   -30 22 56     3.964    3.048   18.6    5.9   107   22.8 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   19 25 08.0   -30 16 59     3.966    3.046   18.1    5.7   108   22.8 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   19 26 49.9   -30 10 59     3.969    3.045   17.5    5.6   109   22.8 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   19 28 31.9   -30 04 56     3.971    3.044   16.9    5.4   109   22.8 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   19 30 13.8   -29 58 50     3.974    3.042   16.3    5.2   110   22.8 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   19 31 55.8   -29 52 41     3.976    3.041   15.8    5.0   111   22.8 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   19 33 37.7   -29 46 29     3.978    3.039   15.2    4.9   112   22.8 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   19 35 19.7   -29 40 14     3.979    3.038   14.6    4.7   113   22.8 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   19 37 01.6   -29 33 56     3.981    3.037   14.1    4.5   114   22.8 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   19 38 43.4   -29 27 35     3.983    3.035   13.5    4.3   115   22.8 

    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.