C/2020 F5 (MASTER)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Mar 2021	15.2	4.326 AU	4.993 AU	22h38m	-42°40'	43.5°	9.1°	204°
Nearest approach	22 Aug 2021	14.7	4.515 AU	3.586 AU	23h13m	-32°50'	153.6°	5.7°	319°
Today	26 Apr 2025	21.1	11.476 AU	12.253 AU	00h51m	+47°09'	37.9°	3.1°	326°

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/2020 F5 (MASTER) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9737720
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.3264240
            i (Inclination)                 : 52.22900
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 350.53540
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 310.62790
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 315.01159
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -36.86466
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459289.79400
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 2118.58

            Epoch                           : 2025 Apr 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-UQ8

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

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 (6.50 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.87 + 5 log[∆] + 9.20 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
2025-04-26 00:00 UT   00 51 09.8   +47 08 46    12.252   11.475   37.9    3.1   326   21.1 
2025-04-26 02:21 UT   00 51 12.5   +47 09 08    12.253   11.476   37.9    3.1   326   21.1 
2025-04-27 00:00 UT   00 51 36.8   +47 12 25    12.257   11.481   37.9    3.1   325   21.1 
2025-04-28 00:00 UT   00 52 03.7   +47 16 05    12.262   11.486   38.0    3.1   323   21.1 
2025-04-29 00:00 UT   00 52 30.4   +47 19 47    12.266   11.492   38.1    3.1   322   21.1 
2025-04-30 00:00 UT   00 52 57.1   +47 23 30    12.271   11.497   38.3    3.1   321   21.1 
2025-05-01 00:00 UT   00 53 23.5   +47 27 16    12.275   11.503   38.4    3.1   319   21.1 
2025-05-02 00:00 UT   00 53 49.8   +47 31 03    12.279   11.508   38.6    3.1   318   21.1 
2025-05-03 00:00 UT   00 54 16.0   +47 34 53    12.282   11.514   38.7    3.1   317   21.1 
2025-05-04 00:00 UT   00 54 42.0   +47 38 43    12.286   11.519   38.9    3.2   315   21.1 
2025-05-05 00:00 UT   00 55 07.8   +47 42 36    12.289   11.525   39.1    3.2   314   21.1 
2025-05-06 00:00 UT   00 55 33.4   +47 46 30    12.292   11.530   39.4    3.2   313   21.1 

    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.