C/2021 U5 (Catalina)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Jan 2022	17.8	2.359 AU	1.623 AU	10h19m	-27°14'	127.9°	19.2°	329°
Nearest approach	3 Mar 2022	17.6	2.392 AU	1.460 AU	10h16m	-16°58'	154.2°	10.4°	24°
Today	3 Feb 2026	29.4	12.191 AU	12.785 AU	18h20m	+13°35'	51.2°	3.6°	305°

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. (13.0 + 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 U5 (Catalina) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9894950
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3590130
    i (Inclination)                 : 39.03930
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 182.65170
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 321.48520
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 150.92925
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -23.09272
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459606.62630
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 3365.13

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-WQ9

    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
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   18 19 59.5   +13 31 38    12.788   12.180   50.1    3.6   306   29.4 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   18 20 17.7   +13 33 32    12.786   12.186   50.7    3.6   305   29.4 
2026-02-03 19:53 UT   18 20 32.7   +13 35 09    12.785   12.191   51.2    3.6   305   29.4 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   18 20 35.7   +13 35 29    12.784   12.192   51.3    3.6   304   29.4 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   18 20 53.5   +13 37 28    12.782   12.199   51.9    3.6   304   29.4 
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   18 21 11.1   +13 39 29    12.779   12.205   52.5    3.7   303   29.4 
2026-02-07 00:00 UT   18 21 28.5   +13 41 32    12.777   12.211   53.1    3.7   302   29.4 
2026-02-08 00:00 UT   18 21 45.6   +13 43 37    12.774   12.217   53.8    3.7   301   29.4 
2026-02-09 00:00 UT   18 22 02.6   +13 45 44    12.771   12.223   54.4    3.8   300   29.4 
2026-02-10 00:00 UT   18 22 19.3   +13 47 53    12.767   12.229   55.0    3.8   299   29.4 
2026-02-11 00:00 UT   18 22 35.8   +13 50 04    12.764   12.236   55.7    3.8   298   29.4 
2026-02-12 00:00 UT   18 22 52.0   +13 52 17    12.761   12.242   56.3    3.8   297   29.4 
2026-02-13 00:00 UT   18 23 08.0   +13 54 32    12.757   12.248   57.0    3.9   297   29.4 

    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.