C/2021 Q4 (Fuls)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Jun 2023	19.2	7.563 AU	7.677 AU	23h08m	+28°03'	79.8°	7.6°	249°
Nearest approach	17 Sep 2023	18.9	7.589 AU	6.690 AU	22h52m	+23°54'	151.4°	3.6°	156°
Today	17 Mar 2026	21.0	9.761 AU	10.659 AU	01h08m	-14°52'	24.3°	2.4°	121°

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. (6.0 + 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 Q4 (Fuls) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0003070
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.5632560
    i (Inclination)                 : 71.55600
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 183.33720
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.00510
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.72909
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.10392
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460105.62430

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   01 07 55.0   -14 53 37    10.650    9.757   24.9    2.5   119   21.0 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   01 08 21.0   -14 52 36    10.658    9.761   24.4    2.4   121   21.0 
2026-03-17 03:28 UT   01 08 24.7   -14 52 27    10.659    9.761   24.3    2.4   121   21.0 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   01 08 47.1   -14 51 36    10.665    9.765   24.0    2.4   123   21.0 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   01 09 13.3   -14 50 37    10.673    9.768   23.5    2.3   125   21.0 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   01 09 39.6   -14 49 40    10.679    9.772   23.2    2.3   127   21.0 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   01 10 06.0   -14 48 44    10.686    9.776   22.8    2.3   129   21.0 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   01 10 32.4   -14 47 49    10.693    9.779   22.5    2.2   131   21.0 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   01 10 59.0   -14 46 55    10.699    9.783   22.1    2.2   133   21.1 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   01 11 25.6   -14 46 03    10.705    9.787   21.9    2.2   136   21.1 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   01 11 52.3   -14 45 13    10.710    9.790   21.6    2.2   138   21.1 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   01 12 19.0   -14 44 23    10.716    9.794   21.4    2.1   140   21.1 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   01 12 45.8   -14 43 35    10.721    9.798   21.2    2.1   143   21.1 

    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.