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	4.533 AU	10h02m	+59°28'	92.4°	12.4°	121°
Today	19 Jul 2026	23.9	11.743 AU	11.458 AU	23h52m	+28°51'	103.8°	4.8°	236°

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)                : 0.9910090
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6843780
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.40700
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.12150
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 48.33300
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.56793
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 41.99572
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459694.49650
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 11892.30

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 18
    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
2026-07-18 00:00 UT   23 52 33.8   +28 51 54    11.470   11.736  102.7    4.8   237   23.9 
2026-07-19 00:00 UT   23 52 22.8   +28 51 54    11.461   11.741  103.6    4.8   236   23.9 
2026-07-19 05:38 UT   23 52 20.2   +28 51 53    11.458   11.743  103.8    4.8   236   23.9 
2026-07-20 00:00 UT   23 52 11.4   +28 51 51    11.451   11.747  104.5    4.8   236   23.9 
2026-07-21 00:00 UT   23 51 59.7   +28 51 45    11.442   11.752  105.4    4.8   235   23.9 
2026-07-22 00:00 UT   23 51 47.7   +28 51 36    11.433   11.758  106.2    4.8   235   23.9 
2026-07-23 00:00 UT   23 51 35.3   +28 51 24    11.424   11.763  107.1    4.7   234   23.8 
2026-07-24 00:00 UT   23 51 22.6   +28 51 09    11.415   11.769  108.0    4.7   234   23.8 
2026-07-25 00:00 UT   23 51 09.6   +28 50 51    11.406   11.774  108.9    4.7   233   23.8 
2026-07-26 00:00 UT   23 50 56.3   +28 50 30    11.397   11.780  109.8    4.7   233   23.8 
2026-07-27 00:00 UT   23 50 42.6   +28 50 07    11.389   11.785  110.6    4.6   232   23.8 
2026-07-28 00:00 UT   23 50 28.7   +28 49 40    11.380   11.791  111.5    4.6   232   23.8 
2026-07-29 00:00 UT   23 50 14.4   +28 49 09    11.372   11.796  112.4    4.6   231   23.8 

    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.