C/2021 D1 (SWAN)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Feb 2021	10.8	0.908 AU	1.721 AU	23h25m	+12°48'	23.8°	26.1°	28°
Nearest approach	14 Mar 2021	10.9	0.949 AU	1.681 AU	00h39m	+22°46'	29.3°	30.9°	33°
Today	4 Jul 2025	27.2	13.897 AU	14.276 AU	10h37m	-13°33'	66.2°	3.8°	123°

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 D1 (SWAN) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9910990
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9081890
            i (Inclination)                 : 31.35550
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 311.16160
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.46140
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 20.85263
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 29.74613
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459272.83540
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1030.64

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 03
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-F14

            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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (13.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.03 + 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
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   10 37 52.5   -13 33 45    14.275   13.897   66.2    3.8   123   27.2 
2025-07-04 00:15 UT   10 37 52.6   -13 33 45    14.276   13.897   66.2    3.8   123   27.2 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   10 38 02.8   -13 33 38    14.296   13.903   65.4    3.8   123   27.2 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   10 38 13.2   -13 33 33    14.316   13.909   64.5    3.8   124   27.2 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   10 38 23.8   -13 33 30    14.336   13.915   63.7    3.8   124   27.2 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   10 38 34.6   -13 33 30    14.356   13.922   62.8    3.7   124   27.2 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   10 38 45.6   -13 33 31    14.375   13.928   62.0    3.7   125   27.3 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   10 38 56.8   -13 33 34    14.395   13.934   61.2    3.7   125   27.3 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   10 39 08.1   -13 33 39    14.414   13.940   60.3    3.6   126   27.3 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   10 39 19.6   -13 33 47    14.434   13.946   59.5    3.6   126   27.3 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   10 39 31.2   -13 33 56    14.453   13.952   58.7    3.6   127   27.3 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   10 39 43.0   -13 34 07    14.472   13.958   57.8    3.5   127   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.