C/2021 P2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	2 Sep 2022	19.3	5.182 AU	4.294 AU	21h42m	+19°35'	148.5°	5.8°	150°
Perihelion	22 Jan 2023	19.9	5.066 AU	5.920 AU	20h40m	+07°07'	27.3°	5.1°	11°
Today	22 Feb 2026	23.6	9.465 AU	9.238 AU	15h32m	-10°04'	100.3°	5.9°	282°

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. (9.0 + 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 C/2021 P2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9995780
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.0659550
    i (Inclination)                 : 150.04600
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 32.10190
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 76.69440
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 317.36902
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 29.07155
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459967.49410

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 21
    Reference                       : MPC185656

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   15 32 29.8   -10 05 39     9.257    9.456   98.6    5.9   283   23.6 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   15 32 17.7   -10 04 57     9.245    9.462   99.7    5.9   282   23.6 
2026-02-22 14:24 UT   15 32 10.2   -10 04 30     9.238    9.465  100.3    5.9   282   23.6 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   15 32 05.1   -10 04 13     9.233    9.467  100.7    5.9   282   23.6 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   15 31 52.1   -10 03 28     9.221    9.472  101.7    5.9   282   23.6 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   15 31 38.6   -10 02 41     9.209    9.478  102.8    5.8   282   23.6 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   15 31 24.6   -10 01 52     9.197    9.483  103.9    5.8   282   23.6 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   15 31 10.2   -10 01 02     9.185    9.489  104.9    5.8   282   23.6 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   15 30 55.3   -10 00 11     9.173    9.494  106.0    5.8   282   23.6 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   15 30 39.9   -09 59 18     9.162    9.499  107.0    5.7   281   23.6 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   15 30 24.1   -09 58 24     9.150    9.505  108.1    5.7   281   23.6 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   15 30 07.8   -09 57 28     9.139    9.510  109.1    5.7   281   23.6 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   15 29 51.0   -09 56 31     9.127    9.515  110.2    5.6   281   23.6 

    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.