C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Feb 2021	18.3	2.187 AU	1.876 AU	05h54m	-57°50'	94.5°	26.7°	55°
Perihelion	9 Mar 2021	18.4	2.170 AU	2.030 AU	05h02m	-36°09'	84.3°	27.1°	88°
Today	19 Oct 2025	30.1	12.969 AU	12.433 AU	22h20m	+55°42'	120.6°	3.8°	121°

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. (13.5 + 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 B3 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9366020
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1699630
    i (Inclination)                 : 119.48050
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 67.29110
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 293.62730
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 115.65689
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -52.89667
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459282.59470
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 200.25

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 17
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

    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
2025-10-18 00:00 UT   22 20 56.5   +55 47 14    12.425   12.963  120.8    3.8   122   30.1 
2025-10-19 00:00 UT   22 20 32.7   +55 43 06    12.432   12.968  120.6    3.8   121   30.1 
2025-10-19 01:42 UT   22 20 31.1   +55 42 49    12.433   12.969  120.6    3.8   121   30.1 
2025-10-20 00:00 UT   22 20 09.5   +55 38 57    12.440   12.974  120.5    3.8   120   30.1 
2025-10-21 00:00 UT   22 19 46.8   +55 34 45    12.448   12.979  120.3    3.8   118   30.1 
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   22 19 24.7   +55 30 31    12.457   12.985  120.1    3.8   117   30.1 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   22 19 03.1   +55 26 15    12.465   12.990  119.9    3.8   116   30.1 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   22 18 42.1   +55 21 58    12.474   12.996  119.7    3.8   115   30.1 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   22 18 21.6   +55 17 39    12.482   13.001  119.5    3.8   113   30.1 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   22 18 01.7   +55 13 18    12.491   13.007  119.3    3.8   112   30.1 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   22 17 42.4   +55 08 56    12.500   13.012  119.0    3.8   111   30.1 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   22 17 23.7   +55 04 32    12.510   13.017  118.8    3.8   110   30.1 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   22 17 05.5   +55 00 08    12.519   13.023  118.5    3.8   109   30.1 

    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.