C/2021 K2 (MASTER) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 13 Jul 2021 | 18.7 | 5.480 AU | 4.561 AU | 19h28m | -49°41' | 152.1° | 5.0° | 1° |
Perihelion | 9 Sep 2021 | 18.9 | 5.464 AU | 5.073 AU | 18h25m | -41°02' | 107.7° | 10.1° | 81° |
Today | 28 Jun 2025 | 23.5 | 10.869 AU | 10.598 AU | 17h12m | +52°04' | 102.8° | 5.2° | 162° |
C/2021 K2 (MASTER)- 2025-06-28
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 K2 (MASTER) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0004530
q (Perihelion distance) : 5.4637090
i (Inclination) : 100.87120
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 282.33750
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 343.27720
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 285.58070
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -16.41411
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459466.74530
Epoch : 2025 Jun 27
Reference : MPEC 2022-O01
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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. (8.00 + 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
2025-06-28 00:00 UT 17 12 23.8 +52 04 14 10.594 10.866 102.9 5.2 162 23.5
2025-06-28 13:00 UT 17 12 03.1 +52 04 12 10.598 10.869 102.8 5.2 162 23.5
2025-06-29 00:00 UT 17 11 45.7 +52 04 08 10.602 10.871 102.7 5.2 161 23.5
2025-06-30 00:00 UT 17 11 07.9 +52 03 56 10.610 10.876 102.5 5.2 160 23.5
2025-07-01 00:00 UT 17 10 30.3 +52 03 39 10.619 10.882 102.3 5.2 159 23.5
2025-07-02 00:00 UT 17 09 53.0 +52 03 16 10.627 10.887 102.1 5.2 158 23.5
2025-07-03 00:00 UT 17 09 16.0 +52 02 47 10.636 10.892 101.9 5.2 157 23.5
2025-07-04 00:00 UT 17 08 39.3 +52 02 12 10.645 10.897 101.7 5.2 156 23.5
2025-07-05 00:00 UT 17 08 03.0 +52 01 32 10.653 10.903 101.5 5.2 155 23.5
2025-07-06 00:00 UT 17 07 27.0 +52 00 46 10.662 10.908 101.3 5.2 154 23.5
2025-07-07 00:00 UT 17 06 51.3 +51 59 55 10.671 10.913 101.1 5.2 153 23.5
2025-07-08 00:00 UT 17 06 16.0 +51 58 58 10.680 10.918 100.9 5.2 151 23.5
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.