C/2021 R7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Apr 2021	22.1	5.655 AU	6.636 AU	01h25m	+21°11'	11.3°	2.0°	340°
Nearest approach	30 Sep 2021	21.5	5.780 AU	4.793 AU	00h30m	+13°44'	169.1°	1.9°	185°
Today	3 Jul 2025	26.3	11.609 AU	10.695 AU	20h36m	-37°09'	152.8°	2.3°	294°

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 R7 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9943670
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.6547060
            i (Inclination)                 : 158.87540
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 170.20250
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 140.40020
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 207.85889
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.28088
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459321.84790
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 31805.73

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 02
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-X67

            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. (10.50 + 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
2025-07-03 00:00 UT   20 36 50.7   -37 08 56    10.696   11.608  152.6    2.3   293   26.3 
2025-07-03 05:03 UT   20 36 44.1   -37 09 30    10.695   11.609  152.8    2.3   294   26.3 
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   20 36 19.5   -37 11 36    10.695   11.613  153.4    2.2   295   26.3 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   20 35 48.1   -37 14 14    10.695   11.618  154.2    2.2   297   26.3 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   20 35 16.4   -37 16 51    10.695   11.624  154.9    2.1   299   26.3 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   20 34 44.6   -37 19 26    10.695   11.629  155.6    2.1   301   26.3 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   20 34 12.6   -37 21 59    10.695   11.634  156.3    2.0   303   26.3 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   20 33 40.3   -37 24 31    10.696   11.639  157.0    2.0   305   26.3 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   20 33 07.9   -37 27 01    10.697   11.644  157.6    1.9   307   26.3 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   20 32 35.4   -37 29 29    10.699   11.649  158.2    1.9   310   26.3 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   20 32 02.7   -37 31 55    10.701   11.654  158.8    1.8   312   26.3 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   20 31 29.8   -37 34 19    10.703   11.659  159.3    1.8   315   26.3 

    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.