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'	51.4°	8.6°	300°
Nearest approach	5 Feb 2022	20.9	5.251 AU	4.365 AU	10h28m	+39°47'	151.3°	5.2°	219°
Today	9 Jan 2026	26.5	11.700 AU	11.834 AU	20h50m	+55°13'	79.7°	4.7°	21°

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)                : 0.9995450
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.1848240
    i (Inclination)                 : 102.87700
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 147.32920
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 10.62170
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.93596
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.35159
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459505.44380

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 08
    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
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   20 49 25.2   +55 15 56    11.822   11.694   80.1    4.8    22   26.5 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   20 50 00.1   +55 13 16    11.834   11.699   79.8    4.7    21   26.5 
2026-01-09 01:54 UT   20 50 02.9   +55 13 03    11.834   11.700   79.7    4.7    21   26.5 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   20 50 35.1   +55 10 41    11.845   11.705   79.4    4.7    20   26.6 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   20 51 10.2   +55 08 10    11.857   11.710   79.0    4.7    20   26.6 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   20 51 45.4   +55 05 44    11.868   11.715   78.7    4.7    19   26.6 
2026-01-13 00:00 UT   20 52 20.6   +55 03 22    11.880   11.721   78.3    4.7    18   26.6 
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   20 52 55.9   +55 01 05    11.892   11.726   77.9    4.7    17   26.6 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   20 53 31.2   +54 58 53    11.903   11.731   77.6    4.7    16   26.6 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   20 54 06.5   +54 56 45    11.915   11.737   77.2    4.7    15   26.6 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   20 54 41.9   +54 54 42    11.926   11.742   76.9    4.7    15   26.6 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   20 55 17.3   +54 52 43    11.937   11.747   76.5    4.7    14   26.6 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   20 55 52.7   +54 50 49    11.949   11.752   76.2    4.7    13   26.6 

    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.