P/2021 N1 (ZTF)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	13 Nov 2025	26.5	2.905 AU	3.711 AU	13h04m	-15°59'	30.8°	10.0°	278°
Nearest approach	28 Jun 2026	15.4	1.051 AU	0.176 AU	00h30m	-16°59'	96.4°	74.0°	248°
Perihelion	27 Jul 2026	16.3	0.966 AU	0.314 AU	03h06m	+30°50'	72.1°	89.9°	258°

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. (19.0 + 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 P/2021 N1 (ZTF) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6757230
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9664070
    i (Inclination)                 : 11.48530
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 301.13240
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 21.21970
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 321.96398
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.13285
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461249.33960
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 5.14

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-TA0

    Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
    Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.839

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   13 02 44.1   -15 47 59     3.728    2.913   30.1    9.8   278   26.5 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   13 04 05.8   -15 57 32     3.713    2.906   30.7   10.0   278   26.5 
2025-11-13 03:56 UT   13 04 19.2   -15 59 06     3.711    2.905   30.8   10.0   278   26.5 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   13 05 27.7   -16 07 06     3.699    2.899   31.3   10.2   279   26.5 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   13 06 49.8   -16 16 42     3.685    2.892   31.9   10.4   279   26.4 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   13 08 12.2   -16 26 19     3.670    2.885   32.5   10.6   279   26.4 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   13 09 34.7   -16 35 57     3.655    2.878   33.1   10.8   279   26.4 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   13 10 57.3   -16 45 36     3.640    2.871   33.8   11.0   280   26.4 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   13 12 20.2   -16 55 17     3.625    2.865   34.4   11.2   280   26.4 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   13 13 43.3   -17 04 58     3.610    2.858   35.0   11.4   280   26.3 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   13 15 06.6   -17 14 41     3.595    2.850   35.6   11.6   280   26.3 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   13 16 30.0   -17 24 25     3.580    2.843   36.2   11.9   280   26.3 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   13 17 53.6   -17 34 10     3.564    2.836   36.9   12.1   281   26.3 

    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.