C/2021 J1 (Maury-Attard)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Feb 2021	19.7	1.733 AU	2.324 AU	19h27m	+02°11'	42.8°	22.8°	289°
Nearest approach	27 May 2021	19.3	2.111 AU	1.301 AU	19h35m	-52°30'	131.3°	21.1°	290°
Today	22 Aug 2025	32.2	12.846 AU	13.088 AU	06h32m	-44°31'	74.0°	4.3°	235°

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)                : 0.9338050
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7332360
            i (Inclination)                 : 92.70720
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 88.43360
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.18750
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 90.17792
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 32.77128
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459264.93220
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 133.98

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 21
            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
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   06 32 31.1   -44 30 48    13.088   12.845   73.9    4.3   234   32.2 
2025-08-22 07:52 UT   06 32 35.8   -44 31 42    13.088   12.846   74.0    4.3   235   32.2 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   06 32 45.3   -44 33 34    13.089   12.850   74.2    4.3   235   32.2 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   06 32 59.2   -44 36 22    13.090   12.855   74.4    4.3   236   32.2 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   06 33 12.8   -44 39 12    13.090   12.861   74.7    4.3   237   32.2 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   06 33 26.1   -44 42 05    13.091   12.866   75.0    4.4   238   32.2 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   06 33 39.0   -44 45 00    13.092   12.871   75.2    4.4   239   32.2 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   06 33 51.6   -44 47 58    13.092   12.877   75.5    4.4   240   32.2 
2025-08-29 00:00 UT   06 34 03.9   -44 50 57    13.093   12.882   75.8    4.4   241   32.2 
2025-08-30 00:00 UT   06 34 15.8   -44 53 59    13.093   12.888   76.1    4.4   241   32.2 
2025-08-31 00:00 UT   06 34 27.3   -44 57 02    13.093   12.893   76.3    4.4   242   32.2 
2025-09-01 00:00 UT   06 34 38.5   -45 00 08    13.094   12.898   76.6    4.4   243   32.2 

    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.