P/2021 R8 (Sheppard) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Today | 19 Jul 2025 | 26.3 | 3.403 AU | 3.176 AU | 13h56m | -09°41' | 94.1° | 17.3° | 111° |
Nearest approach | 5 Aug 2026 | 22.8 | 2.339 AU | 1.336 AU | 20h11m | -17°23' | 168.6° | 4.9° | 90° |
Perihelion | 5 Jan 2027 | 23.9 | 2.137 AU | 2.600 AU | 22h34m | -09°22' | 51.8° | 21.2° | 69° |
P/2021 R8 (Sheppard)- 2025-07-19
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 P/2021 R8 (Sheppard) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.2925320
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.1367580
i (Inclination) : 2.20270
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 167.06510
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 190.81800
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 177.87530
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -0.41333
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2461411.29410
P (Orbital period in years) : 5.25
Epoch : 2025 Jul 17
Reference : MPEC 2021-Y10
Classification(s): : Ecliptic; Active asteroid
Tisserand (Jupiter) : 3.179
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. (18.50 + 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
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 13 56 05.0 -09 40 59 3.176 3.404 94.1 17.3 111 26.3
2025-07-19 01:28 UT 13 56 06.5 -09 41 09 3.176 3.403 94.1 17.3 111 26.3
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 13 56 30.3 -09 43 43 3.188 3.401 93.3 17.4 110 26.3
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 13 56 56.5 -09 46 31 3.200 3.399 92.5 17.4 110 26.3
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 13 57 23.7 -09 49 24 3.212 3.397 91.6 17.4 110 26.3
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 13 57 51.8 -09 52 22 3.224 3.394 90.8 17.4 110 26.3
2025-07-24 00:00 UT 13 58 20.9 -09 55 25 3.237 3.392 90.0 17.4 110 26.4
2025-07-25 00:00 UT 13 58 50.9 -09 58 32 3.249 3.390 89.2 17.4 110 26.4
2025-07-26 00:00 UT 13 59 21.8 -10 01 44 3.261 3.387 88.3 17.4 110 26.4
2025-07-27 00:00 UT 13 59 53.6 -10 05 01 3.273 3.385 87.5 17.4 110 26.4
2025-07-28 00:00 UT 14 00 26.3 -10 08 21 3.285 3.383 86.7 17.4 110 26.4
2025-07-29 00:00 UT 14 00 59.9 -10 11 46 3.297 3.380 85.9 17.4 110 26.4
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.