C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today4 Dec 202310.81.694 AU2.200 AU13h11m-40°00'47.2°25.3°264°
Perihelion14 Feb 20249.21.320 AU1.416 AU17h24m-17°44'63.7°42.1°276°
Nearest approach14 Mar 20249.11.390 AU1.298 AU18h48m+06°49'73.3°43.3°274°
C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)- 2023-12-04
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 S3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0002540
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3201850
            i (Inclination)                 : 58.53330
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 215.62090
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 6.85780
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 219.21317
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 5.84550
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460355.21330

            Epoch                           : 2023 Dec 03
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-VM5

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.60 + 5 log[∆] + 6.68 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.