C/2021 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2021	19.7	1.739 AU	2.329 AU	19h27m	+02°07'	42.8°	22.7°	289°
Nearest approach	27 May 2021	19.3	2.116 AU	1.304 AU	19h34m	-52°27'	131.5°	21.0°	291°
Today	18 Apr 2024	30.5	10.033 AU	10.153 AU	05h42m	-51°04'	80.3°	5.7°	121°

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 J1 (Maury-Attard) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9339120
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7386450
            i (Inclination)                 : 92.71410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 88.40770
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.28090
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 90.15021
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 32.67782
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459264.87310
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 134.94

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 17
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-C56

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)
        

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 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. (15.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   05 42 35.2   -51 07 39    10.148   10.030   80.4    5.7   121   30.5 
2024-04-18 11:55 UT   05 42 45.4   -51 04 47    10.153   10.033   80.3    5.7   121   30.5 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   05 42 55.8   -51 01 54    10.158   10.036   80.2    5.7   122   30.5 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   05 43 16.9   -50 56 14    10.168   10.042   80.0    5.7   123   30.6 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   05 43 38.3   -50 50 37    10.178   10.048   79.8    5.6   123   30.6 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   05 44 00.1   -50 45 03    10.187   10.054   79.6    5.6   124   30.6 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   05 44 22.3   -50 39 33    10.197   10.061   79.4    5.6   125   30.6 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   05 44 44.9   -50 34 07    10.207   10.067   79.1    5.6   126   30.6 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   05 45 07.8   -50 28 45    10.217   10.073   78.9    5.6   127   30.6 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   05 45 31.1   -50 23 27    10.227   10.079   78.7    5.6   128   30.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   05 45 54.7   -50 18 12    10.237   10.085   78.5    5.6   129   30.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   05 46 18.6   -50 13 01    10.246   10.091   78.3    5.6   130   30.6 

    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.