C/2021 E3 (ZTF) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 31 May 2022 | 9.7 | 1.783 AU | 1.216 AU | 00h41m | -78°53' | 105.8° | 33.2° | 235° |
Perihelion | 11 Jun 2022 | 9.8 | 1.777 AU | 1.263 AU | 06h28m | -78°23' | 102.0° | 34.0° | 163° |
Today | 26 Dec 2024 | 23.8 | 9.033 AU | 8.072 AU | 07h12m | +18°21' | 166.9° | 1.4° | 295° |
C/2021 E3 (ZTF)- 2024-12-26
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 E3 (ZTF) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0001630
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.7772210
i (Inclination) : 112.52480
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 104.48390
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 228.81510
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 80.83888
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -44.04127
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459741.99270
Epoch : 2024 Dec 25
Reference : MPEC 2024-GJ3
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 (8.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.70 + 5 log[∆] + 14.24 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
2024-12-26 00:00 UT 07 13 10.5 +18 20 36 8.070 9.029 166.4 1.5 294 23.8
2024-12-26 11:36 UT 07 12 54.8 +18 21 43 8.072 9.033 166.9 1.4 295 23.8
2024-12-27 00:00 UT 07 12 38.0 +18 22 55 8.074 9.037 167.5 1.4 295 23.9
2024-12-28 00:00 UT 07 12 05.4 +18 25 13 8.077 9.044 168.6 1.2 297 23.9
2024-12-29 00:00 UT 07 11 32.8 +18 27 32 8.082 9.051 169.7 1.1 299 23.9
2024-12-30 00:00 UT 07 11 00.0 +18 29 51 8.086 9.058 170.7 1.0 302 23.9
2024-12-31 00:00 UT 07 10 27.2 +18 32 10 8.091 9.066 171.8 0.9 305 23.9
2025-01-01 00:00 UT 07 09 54.4 +18 34 29 8.096 9.073 172.8 0.8 309 23.9
2025-01-02 00:00 UT 07 09 21.5 +18 36 48 8.102 9.080 173.7 0.7 314 23.9
2025-01-03 00:00 UT 07 08 48.6 +18 39 07 8.108 9.087 174.6 0.6 322 23.9
2025-01-04 00:00 UT 07 08 15.8 +18 41 26 8.114 9.095 175.4 0.5 332 23.9
2025-01-05 00:00 UT 07 07 42.9 +18 43 46 8.120 9.102 175.9 0.4 345 23.9
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.