C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 12 Feb 2021 | 18.3 | 2.187 AU | 1.875 AU | 05h54m | -57°50' | 94.5° | 26.7° | 55° |
Perihelion | 9 Mar 2021 | 18.4 | 2.170 AU | 2.030 AU | 05h02m | -36°08' | 84.3° | 27.1° | 89° |
Today | 2 Oct 2025 | 30.1 | 12.880 AU | 12.331 AU | 22h27m | +56°44' | 121.4° | 3.8° | 142° |
C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE)- 2025-10-02
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) : 0.9366060
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.1697190
i (Inclination) : 119.47990
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 67.28920
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 293.62340
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 115.65974
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -52.89938
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459282.62090
P (Orbital period in years) : 200.23
Epoch : 2025 Oct 01
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
2025-10-02 00:00 UT 22 28 26.4 +56 47 01 12.327 12.876 121.3 3.8 143 30.1
2025-10-02 20:25 UT 22 27 59.5 +56 44 11 12.331 12.880 121.4 3.8 142 30.1
2025-10-03 00:00 UT 22 27 54.8 +56 43 41 12.332 12.881 121.4 3.8 142 30.1
2025-10-04 00:00 UT 22 27 23.6 +56 40 17 12.337 12.887 121.4 3.8 141 30.1
2025-10-05 00:00 UT 22 26 52.8 +56 36 50 12.342 12.892 121.5 3.8 139 30.1
2025-10-06 00:00 UT 22 26 22.5 +56 33 20 12.347 12.898 121.5 3.8 138 30.1
2025-10-07 00:00 UT 22 25 52.6 +56 29 46 12.352 12.903 121.5 3.8 137 30.1
2025-10-08 00:00 UT 22 25 23.2 +56 26 08 12.358 12.909 121.5 3.8 135 30.1
2025-10-09 00:00 UT 22 24 54.3 +56 22 28 12.364 12.914 121.5 3.8 134 30.1
2025-10-10 00:00 UT 22 24 25.8 +56 18 44 12.370 12.919 121.4 3.8 133 30.1
2025-10-11 00:00 UT 22 23 57.9 +56 14 58 12.376 12.925 121.4 3.8 131 30.1
2025-10-12 00:00 UT 22 23 30.4 +56 11 08 12.383 12.930 121.3 3.8 130 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.