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	1 Aug 2026	31.6	14.957 AU	14.879 AU	01h02m	+48°20'	92.4°	3.9°	239°

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
2026-07-31 00:00 UT   01 02 59.5   +48 18 37    14.891   14.949   91.3    3.9   240   31.6 
2026-08-01 00:00 UT   01 02 50.2   +48 20 04    14.883   14.954   92.0    3.9   239   31.6 
2026-08-01 11:47 UT   01 02 45.5   +48 20 45    14.879   14.957   92.4    3.9   239   31.6 
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   01 02 40.6   +48 21 28    14.875   14.959   92.8    3.9   239   31.6 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   01 02 30.6   +48 22 50    14.867   14.965   93.6    3.9   238   31.6 
2026-08-04 00:00 UT   01 02 20.3   +48 24 10    14.859   14.970   94.3    3.9   238   31.6 
2026-08-05 00:00 UT   01 02 09.5   +48 25 28    14.851   14.976   95.1    3.9   237   31.6 
2026-08-06 00:00 UT   01 01 58.5   +48 26 43    14.843   14.981   95.9    3.9   236   31.6 
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   01 01 47.1   +48 27 57    14.835   14.986   96.6    3.9   236   31.6 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   01 01 35.3   +48 29 08    14.827   14.992   97.4    3.8   235   31.6 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   01 01 23.2   +48 30 17    14.819   14.997   98.2    3.8   234   31.6 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   01 01 10.7   +48 31 24    14.811   15.002   98.9    3.8   234   31.6 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   01 00 57.9   +48 32 29    14.803   15.008   99.7    3.8   233   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.