C/2021 N3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jul 2020	19.5	5.720 AU	4.801 AU	18h56m	-50°33'	152.3°	4.7°	359°
Perihelion	16 Aug 2020	19.6	5.712 AU	5.029 AU	18h39m	-48°05'	128.3°	8.0°	64°
Today	12 Jul 2025	25.0	12.683 AU	12.658 AU	00h48m	+24°11'	89.1°	4.6°	246°

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 N3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9592890
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.7118500
            i (Inclination)                 : 26.76410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 337.52720
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 304.59460
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.21224
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -21.75863
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459078.36250
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1661.87

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 11
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-YB4

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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. (8.50 + 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
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   00 48 25.9   +24 10 34    12.661   12.682   88.8    4.6   246   25.0 
2025-07-12 05:35 UT   00 48 26.2   +24 11 03    12.658   12.683   89.1    4.6   246   25.0 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   00 48 27.1   +24 12 38    12.650   12.686   89.7    4.6   246   25.0 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   00 48 28.0   +24 14 41    12.639   12.691   90.6    4.6   246   25.0 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   00 48 28.6   +24 16 43    12.628   12.696   91.5    4.6   245   25.0 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   00 48 28.9   +24 18 43    12.617   12.701   92.4    4.6   245   25.0 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   00 48 28.9   +24 20 40    12.606   12.706   93.3    4.6   245   25.0 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   00 48 28.6   +24 22 37    12.595   12.711   94.2    4.6   245   25.0 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   00 48 28.0   +24 24 31    12.585   12.716   95.1    4.6   244   25.0 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   00 48 27.1   +24 26 23    12.574   12.721   96.0    4.6   244   25.0 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   00 48 25.8   +24 28 14    12.563   12.726   96.9    4.5   244   25.0 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   00 48 24.3   +24 30 03    12.552   12.730   97.8    4.5   243   25.0 

    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.