C/2021 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2021	19.7	1.737 AU	2.327 AU	19h27m	+02°09'	42.8°	22.7°	289°
Nearest approach	27 May 2021	19.3	2.114 AU	1.303 AU	19h34m	-52°28'	131.4°	21.1°	290°
Today	31 Oct 2024	31.2	11.201 AU	11.107 AU	06h41m	-53°14'	92.8°	5.1°	298°

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)                : 0.9338610
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7368040
            i (Inclination)                 : 92.70960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 88.42560
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.24740
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 90.16746
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 32.71140
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459264.88710
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 134.57

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   06 41 58.7   -53 14 22    11.107   11.200   92.8    5.1   298   31.2 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   06 41 57.8   -53 14 32    11.107   11.201   92.8    5.1   298   31.2 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   06 41 39.2   -53 17 55    11.109   11.206   93.1    5.1   299   31.2 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   06 41 19.0   -53 21 26    11.110   11.212   93.3    5.1   300   31.2 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   06 40 58.2   -53 24 54    11.112   11.218   93.6    5.1   301   31.2 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   06 40 36.9   -53 28 18    11.113   11.224   93.8    5.1   302   31.2 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   06 40 15.0   -53 31 39    11.115   11.229   94.1    5.1   303   31.2 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   06 39 52.5   -53 34 57    11.117   11.235   94.3    5.0   305   31.2 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   06 39 29.4   -53 38 11    11.118   11.241   94.6    5.0   306   31.2 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   06 39 05.8   -53 41 22    11.120   11.247   94.8    5.0   307   31.2 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   06 38 41.6   -53 44 29    11.122   11.253   95.0    5.0   308   31.2 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   06 38 16.9   -53 47 32    11.124   11.258   95.3    5.0   309   31.2 

    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.