A/2021 E4
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Feb 2022	19.7	4.712 AU	3.940 AU	11h41m	+49°49'	137.1°	8.2°	215°
Perihelion	24 Apr 2022	20.2	4.684 AU	4.531 AU	10h02m	+59°28'	92.5°	12.4°	121°
Today	20 May 2026	23.9	11.418 AU	11.984 AU	23h53m	+27°54'	53.9°	4.1°	265°

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 displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=12.80; G=.15).

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 A/2021 E4 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9909270
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6836340
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.40420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.12340
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 48.32340
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.57981
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 41.98928
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459694.43990
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 11728.65

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 20
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   23 53 00.6   +27 51 39    11.995   11.408   52.5    4.0   266   23.8 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   23 53 09.8   +27 53 12    11.989   11.413   53.3    4.1   265   23.9 
2026-05-20 20:30 UT   23 53 17.5   +27 54 32    11.984   11.418   53.9    4.1   265   23.9 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   23 53 18.8   +27 54 45    11.983   11.419   54.1    4.1   265   23.9 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   23 53 27.4   +27 56 18    11.977   11.424   54.8    4.2   264   23.9 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   23 53 35.7   +27 57 50    11.970   11.430   55.6    4.2   263   23.9 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   23 53 43.8   +27 59 22    11.964   11.435   56.4    4.2   263   23.9 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   23 53 51.5   +28 00 53    11.957   11.441   57.2    4.3   262   23.9 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   23 53 59.0   +28 02 24    11.951   11.446   58.0    4.3   262   23.9 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   23 54 06.1   +28 03 55    11.944   11.451   58.8    4.3   261   23.9 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   23 54 13.0   +28 05 24    11.937   11.457   59.6    4.4   260   23.9 
2026-05-29 00:00 UT   23 54 19.5   +28 06 53    11.930   11.462   60.3    4.4   260   23.9 
2026-05-30 00:00 UT   23 54 25.7   +28 08 22    11.922   11.468   61.1    4.4   259   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.