C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2021	18.3	2.183 AU	1.873 AU	05h54m	-57°57'	94.4°	26.8°	56°
Perihelion	9 Mar 2021	18.4	2.165 AU	2.031 AU	05h02m	-35°57'	84.0°	27.1°	89°
Today	31 Oct 2024	29.0	10.968 AU	10.413 AU	22h48m	+56°08'	121.7°	4.4°	114°

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 B3 (NEOWISE) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9367530
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1649470
            i (Inclination)                 : 119.47340
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 67.27100
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 293.55960
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 115.72219
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -52.94111
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459283.21020
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 200.27

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

            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. (13.50 + 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   22 48 42.5   +56 08 56    10.413   10.968  121.7    4.4   114   29.0 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   22 48 41.2   +56 08 42    10.413   10.968  121.7    4.4   114   29.0 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   22 48 16.1   +56 03 51    10.422   10.973  121.5    4.4   113   29.0 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   22 47 50.4   +55 58 45    10.432   10.979  121.2    4.4   112   29.0 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   22 47 25.5   +55 53 36    10.442   10.985  120.9    4.4   110   29.0 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   22 47 01.3   +55 48 27    10.452   10.991  120.7    4.5   109   29.0 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   22 46 37.8   +55 43 16    10.462   10.997  120.4    4.5   108   29.0 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   22 46 15.0   +55 38 03    10.473   11.003  120.0    4.5   106   29.0 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   22 45 53.0   +55 32 50    10.483   11.009  119.7    4.5   105   29.0 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   22 45 31.7   +55 27 36    10.494   11.015  119.4    4.5   104   29.0 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   22 45 11.1   +55 22 21    10.505   11.021  119.0    4.5   103   29.0 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   22 44 51.2   +55 17 05    10.517   11.027  118.7    4.5   102   29.0 

    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.