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	03h32m	-29°29'	119.8°	17.0°	32°
Perihelion	4 May 2021	20.5	2.520 AU	3.178 AU	05h39m	+11°30'	41.9°	15.5°	101°
Today	15 May 2026	31.2	14.335 AU	13.536 AU	15h51m	+19°48'	140.9°	2.5°	189°

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)                : 0.9940750
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5195490
    i (Inclination)                 : 38.09250
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 120.40140
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 335.21530
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 100.43039
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.98844
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459339.31780
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 8769.03

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 14
    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
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   15 52 05.5   +19 47 19    13.526   14.326  141.0    2.5   191   31.2 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   15 51 50.2   +19 47 59    13.532   14.331  140.9    2.5   190   31.2 
2026-05-15 16:38 UT   15 51 39.6   +19 48 26    13.536   14.335  140.9    2.5   189   31.2 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   15 51 34.9   +19 48 37    13.538   14.337  140.9    2.6   188   31.2 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   15 51 19.5   +19 49 12    13.545   14.343  140.7    2.6   187   31.2 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   15 51 04.2   +19 49 44    13.552   14.349  140.6    2.6   185   31.2 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   15 50 48.8   +19 50 13    13.559   14.354  140.5    2.6   183   31.2 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   15 50 33.5   +19 50 39    13.567   14.360  140.3    2.6   182   31.2 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   15 50 18.1   +19 51 02    13.575   14.366  140.1    2.6   180   31.2 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   15 50 02.8   +19 51 22    13.583   14.372  139.9    2.6   179   31.2 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   15 49 47.5   +19 51 40    13.591   14.378  139.6    2.6   177   31.2 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   15 49 32.3   +19 51 54    13.599   14.383  139.4    2.6   176   31.2 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   15 49 17.0   +19 52 06    13.608   14.389  139.1    2.6   174   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.