C/2021 R7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Apr 2021	22.1	5.654 AU	6.636 AU	01h26m	+21°12'	11.3°	2.0°	338°
Nearest approach	30 Sep 2021	21.5	5.779 AU	4.792 AU	00h30m	+13°45'	169.1°	1.9°	185°
Today	15 May 2026	27.2	13.214 AU	12.744 AU	20h15m	-38°56'	115.6°	4.0°	266°

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. (10.5 + 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 R7 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9949670
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.6543020
    i (Inclination)                 : 158.88280
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 170.23280
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 140.44400
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 207.84745
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.26386
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459322.49460
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 37655.47

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 14
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   20 15 51.9   -38 53 06    12.760   13.206  114.1    4.0   265   27.2 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   20 15 37.8   -38 55 22    12.750   13.211  115.1    4.0   266   27.2 
2026-05-15 14:12 UT   20 15 29.2   -38 56 43    12.744   13.214  115.6    4.0   266   27.2 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   20 15 23.3   -38 57 39    12.740   13.216  116.0    3.9   266   27.2 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   20 15 08.3   -38 59 56    12.731   13.221  117.0    3.9   266   27.2 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   20 14 53.0   -39 02 14    12.721   13.226  117.9    3.9   267   27.2 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   20 14 37.3   -39 04 32    12.712   13.231  118.9    3.8   267   27.2 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   20 14 21.2   -39 06 50    12.703   13.236  119.8    3.8   268   27.2 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   20 14 04.7   -39 09 09    12.694   13.241  120.8    3.8   268   27.2 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   20 13 47.8   -39 11 27    12.685   13.246  121.7    3.7   269   27.2 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   20 13 30.5   -39 13 46    12.677   13.251  122.7    3.7   269   27.2 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   20 13 12.9   -39 16 05    12.668   13.256  123.6    3.6   270   27.2 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   20 12 54.8   -39 18 24    12.660   13.261  124.6    3.6   270   27.2 

    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.