C/2021 T2 (Fuls)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	8 Jun 2022	17.8	1.242 AU	1.470 AU	03h43m	-30°06'	56.5°	42.9°	203°
Nearest approach	7 Jul 2022	17.4	1.317 AU	1.138 AU	07h11m	-52°28'	75.1°	48.2°	178°
Today	26 Apr 2026	27.4	12.767 AU	12.063 AU	14h08m	+33°54'	132.7°	3.3°	179°

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 estimated manually by the author. (16.5 + 5 log[∆] + 5.0 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 T2 (Fuls) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0005000
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2423040
    i (Inclination)                 : 117.48030
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 223.17120
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 263.47870
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 147.08482
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -61.81526
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459738.96870

    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
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   14 09 10.2   +33 52 20    12.051   12.760  133.1    3.3   180   27.4 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   14 08 47.5   +33 53 58    12.061   12.766  132.8    3.3   179   27.4 
2026-04-26 03:18 UT   14 08 44.4   +33 54 11    12.063   12.767  132.7    3.3   179   27.4 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   14 08 24.9   +33 55 32    12.072   12.773  132.4    3.3   177   27.4 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   14 08 02.3   +33 57 02    12.083   12.779  132.0    3.4   176   27.4 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   14 07 39.7   +33 58 28    12.095   12.786  131.6    3.4   175   27.4 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   14 07 17.2   +33 59 49    12.106   12.792  131.2    3.4   173   27.4 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   14 06 54.8   +34 01 07    12.118   12.799  130.7    3.4   172   27.5 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   14 06 32.4   +34 02 20    12.130   12.805  130.3    3.4   171   27.5 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   14 06 10.2   +34 03 30    12.142   12.812  129.8    3.5   170   27.5 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   14 05 48.0   +34 04 35    12.155   12.818  129.3    3.5   168   27.5 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   14 05 25.9   +34 05 36    12.167   12.825  128.9    3.5   167   27.5 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   14 05 03.9   +34 06 33    12.180   12.831  128.4    3.5   166   27.5 

    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.