C/2021 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2021	19.7	1.730 AU	2.319 AU	19h27m	+02°13'	42.8°	22.8°	289°
Nearest approach	27 May 2021	19.3	2.108 AU	1.298 AU	19h35m	-52°33'	131.2°	21.2°	290°
Today	14 Aug 2026	33.0	14.686 AU	14.988 AU	06h26m	-41°09'	70.8°	3.7°	229°

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. (15.5 + 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 J1 (Maury-Attard) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9337820
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7295660
    i (Inclination)                 : 92.71450
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 88.41490
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.13000
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 90.16777
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 32.82847
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459264.98040
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 133.49

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194174

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   06 25 33.8   -41 05 38    14.987   14.676   70.2    3.7   228   33.0 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   06 25 47.8   -41 07 44    14.987   14.681   70.5    3.7   228   33.0 
2026-08-14 23:34 UT   06 26 01.3   -41 09 51    14.988   14.686   70.8    3.7   229   33.0 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   06 26 01.5   -41 09 53    14.988   14.686   70.8    3.7   229   33.0 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   06 26 15.0   -41 12 04    14.988   14.691   71.1    3.7   230   33.0 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   06 26 28.3   -41 14 17    14.988   14.696   71.3    3.7   231   33.1 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   06 26 41.3   -41 16 33    14.988   14.700   71.6    3.7   232   33.1 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   06 26 54.1   -41 18 50    14.988   14.705   71.9    3.8   233   33.1 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   06 27 06.6   -41 21 10    14.987   14.710   72.2    3.8   234   33.1 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   06 27 18.9   -41 23 32    14.987   14.715   72.5    3.8   235   33.1 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   06 27 30.9   -41 25 56    14.987   14.720   72.8    3.8   236   33.1 
2026-08-23 00:00 UT   06 27 42.6   -41 28 22    14.986   14.725   73.1    3.8   237   33.1 
2026-08-24 00:00 UT   06 27 54.0   -41 30 50    14.986   14.730   73.4    3.8   238   33.1 

    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.