C/2021 B2 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 15 Dec 2020 | 20.5 | 2.926 AU | 2.312 AU | 03h31m | -29°37' | 119.6° | 17.0° | 32° |
Perihelion | 4 May 2021 | 20.5 | 2.514 AU | 3.174 AU | 05h38m | +11°28' | 41.9° | 15.5° | 101° |
Today | 1 May 2025 | 30.1 | 12.076 AU | 11.291 AU | 15h37m | +22°19' | 139.6° | 3.1° | 203° |
C/2021 B2 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-05-01
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 B2 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9938010
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.5144670
i (Inclination) : 38.08630
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 120.44380
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 335.10620
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 100.37918
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -15.04956
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459339.33160
P (Orbital period in years) : 8169.33
Epoch : 2025 May 01
Reference : MPEC 2022-L66
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 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. (14.00 + 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
2025-05-01 00:00 UT 15 37 19.8 +22 18 29 11.286 12.070 139.5 3.1 205 30.1
2025-05-01 23:24 UT 15 37 02.8 +22 19 46 11.291 12.076 139.6 3.1 203 30.1
2025-05-02 00:00 UT 15 37 02.4 +22 19 48 11.291 12.076 139.6 3.1 203 30.1
2025-05-03 00:00 UT 15 36 44.9 +22 21 03 11.297 12.082 139.6 3.1 201 30.1
2025-05-04 00:00 UT 15 36 27.3 +22 22 15 11.302 12.089 139.7 3.1 200 30.1
2025-05-05 00:00 UT 15 36 09.7 +22 23 24 11.308 12.095 139.7 3.1 198 30.1
2025-05-06 00:00 UT 15 35 52.0 +22 24 29 11.314 12.101 139.7 3.1 197 30.1
2025-05-07 00:00 UT 15 35 34.2 +22 25 31 11.320 12.107 139.6 3.1 195 30.1
2025-05-08 00:00 UT 15 35 16.5 +22 26 29 11.327 12.113 139.6 3.1 193 30.1
2025-05-09 00:00 UT 15 34 58.6 +22 27 23 11.333 12.119 139.5 3.1 192 30.1
2025-05-10 00:00 UT 15 34 40.8 +22 28 14 11.340 12.126 139.4 3.1 190 30.1
2025-05-11 00:00 UT 15 34 22.9 +22 29 02 11.348 12.132 139.3 3.1 189 30.1
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.