P/2021 C2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Feb 2021	21.9	4.887 AU	3.984 AU	10h22m	+38°45'	153.5°	5.2°	202°
Perihelion	26 Feb 2021	21.9	4.886 AU	4.010 AU	10h15m	+39°21'	149.1°	6.0°	170°
Today	10 Nov 2026	27.3	10.149 AU	10.904 AU	17h39m	-31°34'	38.6°	3.5°	102°

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. (12.0 + 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 P/2021 C2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4887430
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.8861230
    i (Inclination)                 : 21.92550
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.44340
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 78.83360
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.43078
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 21.48957
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459271.57820
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 29.55

    Epoch                           : 2026 Nov 09
    Reference                       : MPC194173

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-11-09 00:00 UT   17 39 05.0   -31 33 50    10.884   10.145   40.0    3.6   102   27.2 
2026-11-10 00:00 UT   17 39 31.8   -31 34 04    10.897   10.148   39.1    3.5   102   27.3 
2026-11-10 13:36 UT   17 39 47.1   -31 34 13    10.904   10.149   38.6    3.5   102   27.3 
2026-11-11 00:00 UT   17 39 58.8   -31 34 19    10.909   10.150   38.2    3.5   103   27.3 
2026-11-12 00:00 UT   17 40 26.1   -31 34 35    10.922   10.153   37.3    3.4   103   27.3 
2026-11-13 00:00 UT   17 40 53.5   -31 34 50    10.934   10.155   36.5    3.3   103   27.3 
2026-11-14 00:00 UT   17 41 21.2   -31 35 06    10.946   10.158   35.6    3.2   104   27.3 
2026-11-15 00:00 UT   17 41 49.0   -31 35 23    10.958   10.160   34.7    3.2   104   27.3 
2026-11-16 00:00 UT   17 42 17.0   -31 35 40    10.969   10.163   33.8    3.1   104   27.3 
2026-11-17 00:00 UT   17 42 45.2   -31 35 57    10.981   10.165   32.9    3.0   105   27.3 
2026-11-18 00:00 UT   17 43 13.6   -31 36 14    10.992   10.168   32.1    3.0   105   27.3 
2026-11-19 00:00 UT   17 43 42.2   -31 36 32    11.003   10.170   31.2    2.9   105   27.3 
2026-11-20 00:00 UT   17 44 10.9   -31 36 50    11.013   10.173   30.3    2.8   106   27.3 

    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.