C/2021 A7 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Apr 2021	15.2	2.311 AU	2.135 AU	06h29m	-30°34'	87.1°	25.6°	99°
Perihelion	15 Jul 2021	15.1	1.965 AU	2.811 AU	09h25m	+12°14'	27.4°	13.8°	113°
Today	8 Nov 2024	25.4	10.877 AU	10.901 AU	19h51m	+32°46'	86.0°	5.2°	67°

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 A7 (NEOWISE) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9989090
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.9647620
            i (Inclination)                 : 78.19130
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 154.43780
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 355.98480
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 153.61482
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.93009
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459410.62780
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 76423.65

            Epoch                           : 2024 Nov 06
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-M88

            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 (10.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.89 + 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
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   19 50 56.9   +32 50 54    10.886   10.871   86.5    5.2    68   25.4 
2024-11-08 21:15 UT   19 51 08.7   +32 46 53    10.901   10.877   86.0    5.2    67   25.4 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   19 51 10.3   +32 46 22    10.903   10.878   85.9    5.2    67   25.4 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   19 51 24.1   +32 41 52    10.920   10.885   85.3    5.2    66   25.5 
2024-11-11 00:00 UT   19 51 38.2   +32 37 26    10.937   10.891   84.7    5.2    65   25.5 
2024-11-12 00:00 UT   19 51 52.6   +32 33 03    10.955   10.898   84.1    5.2    65   25.5 
2024-11-13 00:00 UT   19 52 07.4   +32 28 43    10.972   10.905   83.5    5.2    64   25.5 
2024-11-14 00:00 UT   19 52 22.5   +32 24 26    10.989   10.911   82.9    5.2    63   25.5 
2024-11-15 00:00 UT   19 52 37.9   +32 20 12    11.006   10.918   82.3    5.2    62   25.5 
2024-11-16 00:00 UT   19 52 53.6   +32 16 02    11.023   10.925   81.7    5.1    62   25.5 
2024-11-17 00:00 UT   19 53 09.7   +32 11 55    11.039   10.931   81.1    5.1    61   25.5 
2024-11-18 00:00 UT   19 53 26.1   +32 07 51    11.056   10.938   80.5    5.1    60   25.5 

    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.