C/2021 B2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Dec 2020	20.5	2.929 AU	2.313 AU	03h31m	-29°30'	119.7°	17.0°	32°
Perihelion	4 May 2021	20.5	2.519 AU	3.177 AU	05h39m	+11°30'	41.9°	15.5°	101°
Today	21 Apr 2026	31.2	14.196 AU	13.447 AU	15h57m	+19°20'	136.8°	2.8°	226°

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)                : 0.9940350
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5185330
    i (Inclination)                 : 38.09220
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 120.40290
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 335.20070
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 100.41950
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.99681
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459339.34740
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8675.73

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   15 57 50.3   +19 17 45    13.446   14.187  136.1    2.8   228   31.2 
2026-04-21 00:00 UT   15 57 37.3   +19 19 27    13.446   14.193  136.5    2.8   227   31.2 
2026-04-21 15:00 UT   15 57 29.1   +19 20 30    13.447   14.196  136.8    2.8   226   31.2 
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   15 57 24.2   +19 21 07    13.447   14.198  136.9    2.8   226   31.2 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   15 57 10.9   +19 22 45    13.448   14.204  137.3    2.8   224   31.2 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   15 56 57.4   +19 24 20    13.450   14.210  137.7    2.7   223   31.2 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   15 56 43.8   +19 25 53    13.451   14.216  138.1    2.7   221   31.2 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   15 56 30.1   +19 27 23    13.453   14.221  138.4    2.7   220   31.2 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   15 56 16.2   +19 28 51    13.455   14.227  138.7    2.7   219   31.2 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   15 56 02.2   +19 30 17    13.457   14.233  139.0    2.7   217   31.2 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   15 55 48.1   +19 31 40    13.460   14.239  139.3    2.6   215   31.2 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   15 55 33.9   +19 33 01    13.462   14.245  139.6    2.6   214   31.2 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   15 55 19.5   +19 34 20    13.465   14.250  139.8    2.6   212   31.2 

    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.