C/2021 G3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Oct 2021	21.4	5.185 AU	5.747 AU	10h36m	+18°50'	51.5°	8.6°	300°
Nearest approach	5 Feb 2022	20.9	5.252 AU	4.366 AU	10h28m	+39°48'	151.3°	5.2°	219°
Today	22 Feb 2026	26.7	11.935 AU	12.298 AU	21h15m	+54°30'	66.2°	4.4°	342°

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. (10.5 + 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 G3 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9995860
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1853910
    i (Inclination)                 : 102.87800
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 147.32590
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 10.62780
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.93107
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.35749
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459505.47100

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 21
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-X67

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   21 14 50.4   +54 29 21    12.286   11.927   66.5    4.4   344   26.7 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   21 15 22.7   +54 29 53    12.295   11.933   66.3    4.4   343   26.7 
2026-02-22 08:54 UT   21 15 34.7   +54 30 06    12.298   11.935   66.2    4.4   342   26.7 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   21 15 54.9   +54 30 29    12.304   11.938   66.1    4.3   342   26.7 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   21 16 26.9   +54 31 08    12.313   11.943   65.9    4.3   341   26.7 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   21 16 58.7   +54 31 52    12.321   11.948   65.7    4.3   340   26.7 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   21 17 30.2   +54 32 39    12.329   11.954   65.5    4.3   339   26.7 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   21 18 01.6   +54 33 30    12.338   11.959   65.4    4.3   338   26.7 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   21 18 32.7   +54 34 24    12.346   11.964   65.2    4.3   337   26.7 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   21 19 03.6   +54 35 22    12.354   11.970   65.0    4.3   336   26.7 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   21 19 34.3   +54 36 24    12.362   11.975   64.9    4.3   335   26.7 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   21 20 04.8   +54 37 29    12.370   11.980   64.7    4.3   334   26.7 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   21 20 35.0   +54 38 37    12.378   11.986   64.6    4.3   333   26.7 

    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.