C/2021 C3 (Catalina)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Feb 2021	18.7	2.277 AU	1.675 AU	13h33m	-13°28'	115.2°	23.1°	293°
Nearest approach	13 Mar 2021	18.2	2.303 AU	1.330 AU	12h22m	+12°18'	164.5°	6.6°	234°
Today	18 Jul 2026	31.6	14.881 AU	14.993 AU	01h04m	+47°58'	81.7°	3.9°	248°

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. (14.0 + 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 C/2021 C3 (Catalina) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9622200
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2771950
    i (Inclination)                 : 122.24670
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 181.80030
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 356.97500
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 183.41541
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -2.55808
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459256.05530
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 467.96

    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
2026-07-17 00:00 UT   01 04 30.9   +47 55 30    15.005   14.874   80.6    3.9   248   31.6 
2026-07-18 00:00 UT   01 04 26.8   +47 57 19    14.997   14.879   81.4    3.9   248   31.6 
2026-07-18 10:17 UT   01 04 24.9   +47 58 06    14.993   14.881   81.7    3.9   248   31.6 
2026-07-19 00:00 UT   01 04 22.3   +47 59 07    14.989   14.884   82.1    3.9   247   31.6 
2026-07-20 00:00 UT   01 04 17.4   +48 00 53    14.981   14.890   82.9    3.9   247   31.6 
2026-07-21 00:00 UT   01 04 12.2   +48 02 38    14.973   14.895   83.7    3.9   246   31.6 
2026-07-22 00:00 UT   01 04 06.6   +48 04 22    14.965   14.900   84.4    3.9   245   31.6 
2026-07-23 00:00 UT   01 04 00.6   +48 06 03    14.956   14.906   85.2    3.9   245   31.6 
2026-07-24 00:00 UT   01 03 54.2   +48 07 44    14.948   14.911   85.9    3.9   244   31.6 
2026-07-25 00:00 UT   01 03 47.5   +48 09 22    14.940   14.917   86.7    3.9   244   31.6 
2026-07-26 00:00 UT   01 03 40.4   +48 10 59    14.932   14.922   87.5    3.9   243   31.6 
2026-07-27 00:00 UT   01 03 33.0   +48 12 35    14.924   14.927   88.2    3.9   242   31.6 
2026-07-28 00:00 UT   01 03 25.1   +48 14 08    14.916   14.933   89.0    3.9   242   31.6 

    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.