A/2021 X2
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	8 Jul 2022	22.2	2.998 AU	3.515 AU	03h36m	+11°23'	52.0°	15.5°	250°
Nearest approach	4 Oct 2022	21.1	3.122 AU	2.261 AU	02h25m	-21°40'	143.5°	11.0°	312°
Today	29 Apr 2026	27.1	11.472 AU	10.932 AU	18h17m	-55°31'	120.2°	4.4°	289°

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 displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=16.20; G=.15).

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 A/2021 X2 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0017940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.9982280
    i (Inclination)                 : 137.14180
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 228.86440
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 193.41760
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.94524
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -9.08125
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459769.12910

    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
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   18 18 10.5   -55 27 34    10.944   11.459  118.5    4.4   288   27.1 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   18 17 41.7   -55 29 28    10.938   11.465  119.4    4.4   289   27.1 
2026-04-29 23:54 UT   18 17 12.4   -55 31 20    10.932   11.472  120.2    4.4   289   27.1 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   18 17 12.3   -55 31 20    10.932   11.472  120.2    4.4   289   27.1 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   18 16 42.3   -55 33 10    10.926   11.478  121.0    4.3   290   27.1 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   18 16 11.7   -55 34 58    10.920   11.484  121.8    4.3   291   27.1 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   18 15 40.5   -55 36 45    10.915   11.490  122.6    4.2   292   27.1 
2026-05-04 00:00 UT   18 15 08.7   -55 38 29    10.910   11.496  123.4    4.2   293   27.1 
2026-05-05 00:00 UT   18 14 36.4   -55 40 11    10.904   11.503  124.2    4.2   294   27.1 
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   18 14 03.5   -55 41 50    10.899   11.509  125.0    4.1   295   27.1 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   18 13 30.0   -55 43 27    10.895   11.515  125.8    4.1   296   27.1 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   18 12 56.0   -55 45 02    10.890   11.521  126.6    4.0   297   27.1 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   18 12 21.4   -55 46 35    10.886   11.527  127.4    4.0   298   27.1 

    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.