C/2021 C1 (Rankin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Dec 2020	20.0	3.475 AU	4.197 AU	13h59m	-24°37'	38.1°	10.1°	275°
Nearest approach	23 Mar 2021	19.2	3.616 AU	2.624 AU	12h33m	-04°38'	173.6°	1.8°	302°
Today	12 Aug 2026	29.3	15.167 AU	15.672 AU	05h55m	+58°31'	58.5°	3.3°	295°

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)                : 0.9976570
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4747960
    i (Inclination)                 : 143.04630
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 186.77460
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 336.01280
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 206.34887
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.14608
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459188.37150
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 57113.07

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194173

    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
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   05 55 15.5   +58 28 17    15.680   15.158   57.3    3.2   296   29.3 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   05 55 28.3   +58 29 55    15.675   15.163   58.0    3.3   295   29.3 
2026-08-12 15:53 UT   05 55 36.6   +58 31 00    15.672   15.167   58.5    3.3   295   29.3 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   05 55 40.8   +58 31 34    15.670   15.169   58.7    3.3   295   29.3 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   05 55 52.9   +58 33 14    15.664   15.174   59.4    3.3   294   29.3 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   05 56 04.7   +58 34 56    15.658   15.180   60.1    3.3   293   29.3 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   05 56 16.1   +58 36 39    15.652   15.185   60.8    3.3   293   29.3 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   05 56 27.1   +58 38 23    15.646   15.191   61.5    3.4   292   29.3 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   05 56 37.8   +58 40 09    15.640   15.196   62.3    3.4   291   29.3 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   05 56 48.1   +58 41 56    15.634   15.202   63.0    3.4   291   29.3 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   05 56 58.0   +58 43 44    15.628   15.207   63.7    3.4   290   29.3 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   05 57 07.5   +58 45 33    15.621   15.212   64.4    3.4   289   29.3 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   05 57 16.6   +58 47 23    15.615   15.218   65.2    3.5   289   29.3 

    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.