C/2021 C3 (Catalina)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Feb 2021	18.7	2.275 AU	1.667 AU	13h33m	-13°29'	115.6°	23.0°	293°
Nearest approach	13 Mar 2021	18.2	2.300 AU	1.326 AU	12h22m	+12°10'	164.6°	6.6°	234°
Today	15 Sep 2025	30.7	13.193 AU	12.638 AU	00h57m	+52°56'	121.6°	3.7°	205°

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 C3 (Catalina) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9623150
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2745300
            i (Inclination)                 : 122.21650
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 181.84040
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 356.97060
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 183.45651
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -2.56265
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459256.46870
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 468.90

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 15
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-M41

            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. (14.00 + 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
2025-09-15 00:00 UT   00 58 03.6   +52 56 42    12.641   13.188  121.0    3.7   206   30.7 
2025-09-15 21:23 UT   00 57 38.7   +52 56 06    12.638   13.193  121.6    3.7   205   30.7 
2025-09-16 00:00 UT   00 57 35.6   +52 56 02    12.638   13.193  121.6    3.7   205   30.7 
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   00 57 07.4   +52 55 18    12.635   13.199  122.3    3.7   204   30.7 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   00 56 39.1   +52 54 30    12.632   13.205  122.9    3.7   203   30.7 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   00 56 10.5   +52 53 37    12.629   13.210  123.5    3.6   201   30.7 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   00 55 41.9   +52 52 41    12.626   13.216  124.1    3.6   200   30.7 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   00 55 13.1   +52 51 40    12.624   13.222  124.7    3.6   199   30.7 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   00 54 44.1   +52 50 36    12.621   13.227  125.3    3.6   198   30.7 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   00 54 15.0   +52 49 26    12.619   13.233  125.9    3.5   197   30.7 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   00 53 45.8   +52 48 13    12.617   13.239  126.5    3.5   196   30.7 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   00 53 16.6   +52 46 56    12.616   13.245  127.0    3.5   195   30.7 

    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.