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 K3 (Catalina) are:

            e (eccentricity)                : 1.0036090
            q (perihelion distance)         : 5.2299420
            i (inclination)                 : 134.78350
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 114.45000
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 181.97580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 113.05791
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.40223
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459613.02140

            Epoch                           : 2021 Oct 22
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-U31

            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 the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (10.00 + 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.