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C/2021 N3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach4 Jul 202019.55.710 AU4.791 AU 18h56m-50°36'152.2°4.8°359°
Perihelion15 Aug 202019.65.703 AU5.011 AU 18h39m-48°12'129.0°7.9°64°
Today4 Oct 202625.914.856 AU13.944 AU 00h56m+29°19'154.8°1.6°189°
C/2021 N3 (PANSTARRS)- 2026-10-04
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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)                : 0.9583850
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.7025020
    i (Inclination)                 : 26.77520
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 337.55210
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 304.45810
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.09852
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -21.80495
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459077.42660
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 1604.07

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 04
    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
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   00 56 53.5   +29 20 54    13.942   14.847  153.9    1.7   193   25.9 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   00 56 38.8   +29 20 08    13.943   14.852  154.4    1.7   191   25.9 
2026-10-04 18:56 UT   00 56 27.2   +29 19 31    13.944   14.856  154.8    1.6   189   25.9 
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   00 56 24.1   +29 19 21    13.944   14.857  155.0    1.6   189   25.9 
2026-10-06 00:00 UT   00 56 09.4   +29 18 32    13.946   14.862  155.5    1.6   186   25.9 
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   00 55 54.7   +29 17 41    13.948   14.866  155.9    1.6   184   25.9 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   00 55 39.9   +29 16 48    13.950   14.871  156.4    1.5   182   25.9 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   00 55 25.2   +29 15 53    13.952   14.876  156.8    1.5   179   25.9 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   00 55 10.5   +29 14 56    13.955   14.881  157.1    1.5   177   25.9 
2026-10-11 00:00 UT   00 54 55.8   +29 13 58    13.958   14.886  157.5    1.5   174   26.0 
2026-10-12 00:00 UT   00 54 41.1   +29 12 57    13.961   14.890  157.8    1.5   172   26.0 
2026-10-13 00:00 UT   00 54 26.5   +29 11 55    13.965   14.895  158.0    1.4   169   26.0 
2026-10-14 00:00 UT   00 54 11.9   +29 10 52    13.969   14.900  158.2    1.4   166   26.0 




    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.

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