C/2021 C1 (Rankin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Dec 2020	20.0	3.473 AU	4.190 AU	13h59m	-24°40'	38.5°	10.2°	276°
Nearest approach	23 Mar 2021	19.2	3.613 AU	2.621 AU	12h33m	-04°42'	173.6°	1.8°	302°
Today	2 Jan 2026	28.5	13.937 AU	13.183 AU	05h44m	+62°35'	138.7°	2.7°	156°

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. (11.5 + 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 C1 (Rankin) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9978840
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4731570
    i (Inclination)                 : 143.04400
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 186.80640
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 336.03430
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 206.36185
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.13467
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459188.89240
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 66498.70

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-KD6

    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
2026-01-01 00:00 UT   05 46 19.8   +62 37 25    13.166   13.926  139.2    2.6   159   28.5 
2026-01-02 00:00 UT   05 45 34.2   +62 36 28    13.175   13.932  138.9    2.7   158   28.5 
2026-01-02 21:40 UT   05 44 53.3   +62 35 33    13.183   13.937  138.7    2.7   156   28.5 
2026-01-03 00:00 UT   05 44 48.9   +62 35 27    13.184   13.937  138.6    2.7   156   28.5 
2026-01-04 00:00 UT   05 44 03.9   +62 34 23    13.193   13.943  138.3    2.7   154   28.5 
2026-01-05 00:00 UT   05 43 19.2   +62 33 14    13.202   13.949  137.9    2.7   152   28.5 
2026-01-06 00:00 UT   05 42 34.8   +62 32 03    13.212   13.954  137.6    2.7   151   28.6 
2026-01-07 00:00 UT   05 41 50.8   +62 30 48    13.222   13.960  137.2    2.7   149   28.6 
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   05 41 07.1   +62 29 29    13.232   13.965  136.8    2.8   147   28.6 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   05 40 23.9   +62 28 06    13.243   13.971  136.3    2.8   146   28.6 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   05 39 41.0   +62 26 41    13.253   13.977  135.9    2.8   144   28.6 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   05 38 58.6   +62 25 12    13.264   13.982  135.4    2.8   143   28.6 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   05 38 16.5   +62 23 39    13.276   13.988  134.9    2.9   141   28.6 

    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.