C/2021 B2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Dec 2020	20.5	2.928 AU	2.313 AU	03h31m	-29°34'	119.7°	17.0°	32°
Perihelion	4 May 2021	20.5	2.517 AU	3.176 AU	05h39m	+11°29'	41.9°	15.5°	101°
Today	5 Dec 2025	31.0	13.390 AU	14.123 AU	15h47m	+15°35'	40.6°	2.7°	339°

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. (14.0 + 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 B2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9939650
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5166280
    i (Inclination)                 : 38.08880
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 120.42560
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 335.15480
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 100.40262
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -15.02225
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459339.37990
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8515.55

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-L66

    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
2025-12-04 00:00 UT   15 46 53.1   +15 35 31    14.123   13.383   40.0    2.7   340   31.0 
2025-12-05 00:00 UT   15 47 12.3   +15 35 07    14.123   13.389   40.5    2.7   339   31.0 
2025-12-05 04:51 UT   15 47 16.2   +15 35 02    14.123   13.390   40.6    2.7   339   31.0 
2025-12-06 00:00 UT   15 47 31.5   +15 34 45    14.123   13.395   40.9    2.8   338   31.0 
2025-12-07 00:00 UT   15 47 50.5   +15 34 26    14.123   13.401   41.4    2.8   337   31.0 
2025-12-08 00:00 UT   15 48 09.5   +15 34 10    14.123   13.407   41.9    2.8   335   31.0 
2025-12-09 00:00 UT   15 48 28.4   +15 33 56    14.123   13.413   42.4    2.8   334   31.0 
2025-12-10 00:00 UT   15 48 47.2   +15 33 45    14.123   13.419   42.9    2.9   333   31.0 
2025-12-11 00:00 UT   15 49 05.9   +15 33 36    14.122   13.425   43.5    2.9   332   31.0 
2025-12-12 00:00 UT   15 49 24.5   +15 33 30    14.121   13.431   44.0    2.9   331   31.0 
2025-12-13 00:00 UT   15 49 43.0   +15 33 26    14.120   13.437   44.6    2.9   330   31.0 
2025-12-14 00:00 UT   15 50 01.4   +15 33 26    14.119   13.443   45.1    3.0   329   31.0 
2025-12-15 00:00 UT   15 50 19.7   +15 33 27    14.117   13.448   45.7    3.0   328   31.0 

    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.