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	7 Nov 2025	28.4	13.616 AU	13.083 AU	06h26m	+61°52'	120.6°	3.6°	245°

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)                : 0.9978920
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4731230
    i (Inclination)                 : 143.04400
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 186.80740
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 336.03520
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 206.36208
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -14.13416
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459188.90790
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 66876.62

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 06
    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
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   06 26 43.2   +61 49 42    13.089   13.609  119.8    3.6   246   28.4 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   06 26 11.0   +61 52 00    13.084   13.615  120.6    3.6   245   28.4 
2025-11-07 02:07 UT   06 26 08.1   +61 52 13    13.083   13.616  120.6    3.6   245   28.4 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   06 25 38.1   +61 54 17    13.079   13.621  121.3    3.6   244   28.4 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   06 25 04.6   +61 56 31    13.075   13.626  122.0    3.5   243   28.4 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   06 24 30.4   +61 58 43    13.071   13.632  122.7    3.5   242   28.4 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   06 23 55.7   +62 00 52    13.066   13.638  123.5    3.5   241   28.4 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   06 23 20.4   +62 02 60    13.063   13.643  124.2    3.4   240   28.4 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   06 22 44.5   +62 05 04    13.059   13.649  124.9    3.4   239   28.4 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   06 22 08.0   +62 07 07    13.055   13.655  125.5    3.4   238   28.4 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   06 21 30.9   +62 09 06    13.052   13.660  126.2    3.3   237   28.4 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   06 20 53.3   +62 11 03    13.049   13.666  126.9    3.3   236   28.4 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   06 20 15.1   +62 12 57    13.046   13.672  127.6    3.3   234   28.4 

    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.