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	19 Jan 2026	31.1	13.657 AU	13.959 AU	15h59m	+16°01'	70.2°	3.9°	299°

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
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   15 59 08.3   +15 59 29    13.967   13.649   69.2    3.9   300   31.1 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   15 59 20.4   +16 00 56    13.960   13.655   70.0    3.9   299   31.1 
2026-01-19 06:32 UT   15 59 23.6   +16 01 20    13.959   13.657   70.2    3.9   299   31.1 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   15 59 32.2   +16 02 25    13.954   13.661   70.7    3.9   299   31.1 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   15 59 43.7   +16 03 57    13.947   13.667   71.5    3.9   298   31.1 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   15 59 55.0   +16 05 31    13.940   13.673   72.3    3.9   298   31.1 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   16 00 06.0   +16 07 06    13.933   13.679   73.1    3.9   297   31.1 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   16 00 16.8   +16 08 44    13.925   13.685   73.8    4.0   296   31.1 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   16 00 27.4   +16 10 24    13.918   13.690   74.6    4.0   296   31.1 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   16 00 37.6   +16 12 05    13.911   13.696   75.4    4.0   295   31.1 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   16 00 47.6   +16 13 49    13.904   13.702   76.2    4.0   294   31.1 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   16 00 57.4   +16 15 34    13.896   13.708   77.0    4.0   294   31.1 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   16 01 06.9   +16 17 22    13.889   13.714   77.8    4.0   293   31.1 

    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.