C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 12 Feb 2021 | 18.3 | 2.186 AU | 1.875 AU | 05h54m | -57°52' | 94.5° | 26.8° | 56° |
Perihelion | 9 Mar 2021 | 18.4 | 2.168 AU | 2.030 AU | 05h02m | -36°05' | 84.2° | 27.1° | 89° |
Today | 15 Jul 2025 | 29.9 | 12.445 AU | 12.409 AU | 23h14m | +57°04' | 89.7° | 4.7° | 228° |
C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE)- 2025-07-15
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 B3 (NEOWISE) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9366360
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.1684850
i (Inclination) : 119.47790
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 67.28320
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 293.60630
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 115.67511
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -52.91076
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459282.76670
P (Orbital period in years) : 200.20
Epoch : 2025 Jul 14
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
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 23 14 33.9 +57 02 06 12.413 12.441 89.2 4.7 229 29.9
2025-07-15 21:00 UT 23 14 12.2 +57 04 31 12.409 12.445 89.7 4.7 228 29.9
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 23 14 09.0 +57 04 51 12.408 12.446 89.8 4.7 228 29.9
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 23 13 43.6 +57 07 33 12.404 12.452 90.3 4.7 227 29.9
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 23 13 17.7 +57 10 11 12.399 12.457 90.9 4.7 227 29.9
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 23 12 51.3 +57 12 46 12.395 12.463 91.5 4.7 226 29.9
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 23 12 24.4 +57 15 18 12.391 12.468 92.0 4.7 225 29.9
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 23 11 57.0 +57 17 45 12.386 12.474 92.6 4.7 224 29.9
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 23 11 29.1 +57 20 09 12.382 12.479 93.2 4.7 223 29.9
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 23 11 00.8 +57 22 30 12.378 12.485 93.7 4.7 222 29.9
2025-07-24 00:00 UT 23 10 31.9 +57 24 46 12.373 12.491 94.3 4.7 221 29.9
2025-07-25 00:00 UT 23 10 02.6 +57 26 58 12.369 12.496 94.8 4.6 220 29.9
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.