C/2021 N3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Jul 2020	19.5	5.713 AU	4.793 AU	18h56m	-50°35'	152.2°	4.8°	359°
Perihelion	16 Aug 2020	19.6	5.705 AU	5.014 AU	18h39m	-48°11'	128.9°	7.9°	64°
Today	14 Jun 2026	25.9	14.319 AU	14.809 AU	01h04m	+27°18'	59.4°	3.5°	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. (8.5 + 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 N3 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9585260
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.7047690
    i (Inclination)                 : 26.77380
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 337.54840
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 304.48570
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.12306
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -21.79626
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459077.55460
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1613.22

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jun 13
    Reference                       : MPC194175

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   01 04 36.1   +27 15 06    14.822   14.312   58.1    3.5   258   25.9 
2026-06-14 00:00 UT   01 04 46.1   +27 17 33    14.814   14.316   58.9    3.5   258   25.9 
2026-06-14 13:35 UT   01 04 51.6   +27 18 56    14.809   14.319   59.4    3.5   258   25.9 
2026-06-15 00:00 UT   01 04 55.8   +27 19 59    14.805   14.321   59.8    3.5   258   25.9 
2026-06-16 00:00 UT   01 05 05.3   +27 22 25    14.797   14.326   60.6    3.5   257   25.9 
2026-06-17 00:00 UT   01 05 14.5   +27 24 50    14.788   14.331   61.5    3.6   257   25.9 
2026-06-18 00:00 UT   01 05 23.5   +27 27 14    14.779   14.336   62.3    3.6   257   25.9 
2026-06-19 00:00 UT   01 05 32.3   +27 29 38    14.770   14.340   63.2    3.6   256   25.9 
2026-06-20 00:00 UT   01 05 40.8   +27 32 01    14.761   14.345   64.0    3.7   256   25.9 
2026-06-21 00:00 UT   01 05 49.1   +27 34 23    14.752   14.350   64.9    3.7   255   25.9 
2026-06-22 00:00 UT   01 05 57.1   +27 36 44    14.742   14.355   65.7    3.7   255   25.9 
2026-06-23 00:00 UT   01 06 04.8   +27 39 05    14.733   14.360   66.6    3.7   255   25.9 
2026-06-24 00:00 UT   01 06 12.3   +27 41 24    14.724   14.364   67.4    3.7   254   25.9 

    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.