C/2021 K2 (MASTER)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Jul 2021	18.7	5.476 AU	4.557 AU	19h28m	-49°43'	152.0°	5.0°	1°
Perihelion	8 Sep 2021	18.9	5.460 AU	5.064 AU	18h25m	-41°07'	108.0°	10.1°	81°
Today	25 Feb 2026	24.3	12.125 AU	12.129 AU	17h36m	+51°18'	87.4°	4.7°	288°

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. (8.0 + 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 K2 (MASTER) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000840
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4596780
    i (Inclination)                 : 100.87200
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 282.34010
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 343.22630
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.59397
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -16.46397
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459466.44260

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 24
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-O01

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   17 35 58.1   +51 11 31    12.129   12.119   87.1    4.7   289   24.3 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   17 36 05.2   +51 17 16    12.129   12.124   87.3    4.7   288   24.3 
2026-02-25 06:09 UT   17 36 06.9   +51 18 44    12.129   12.125   87.4    4.7   288   24.3 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   17 36 11.8   +51 23 02    12.129   12.129   87.6    4.7   288   24.3 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   17 36 17.9   +51 28 50    12.130   12.134   87.9    4.7   287   24.3 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   17 36 23.5   +51 34 39    12.130   12.139   88.2    4.7   286   24.3 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   17 36 28.6   +51 40 29    12.130   12.145   88.5    4.7   285   24.3 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   17 36 33.2   +51 46 21    12.131   12.150   88.7    4.7   284   24.3 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   17 36 37.3   +51 52 14    12.131   12.155   89.0    4.7   283   24.3 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   17 36 40.9   +51 58 08    12.132   12.160   89.3    4.7   282   24.3 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   17 36 43.9   +52 04 03    12.132   12.165   89.5    4.7   281   24.3 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   17 36 46.4   +52 09 59    12.133   12.170   89.8    4.7   280   24.3 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   17 36 48.4   +52 15 55    12.134   12.176   90.1    4.7   279   24.3 

    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.