C/2021 B3 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Feb 2021	18.3	2.189 AU	1.877 AU	05h54m	-57°47'	94.6°	26.7°	55°
Perihelion	8 Mar 2021	18.4	2.172 AU	2.030 AU	05h02m	-36°12'	84.5°	27.1°	88°
Today	12 May 2026	30.8	14.063 AU	14.519 AU	22h51m	+52°53'	61.4°	3.6°	278°

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)                : 0.9365640
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1720280
    i (Inclination)                 : 119.48640
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 67.31030
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 293.66110
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 115.63559
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -52.87271
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459282.38320
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 200.35

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   22 51 18.1   +52 47 18    14.520   14.054   60.7    3.6   279   30.8 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   22 51 22.9   +52 50 46    14.519   14.060   61.1    3.6   278   30.8 
2026-05-12 17:08 UT   22 51 26.0   +52 53 14    14.519   14.063   61.4    3.6   278   30.8 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   22 51 27.2   +52 54 14    14.518   14.065   61.5    3.6   277   30.8 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   22 51 31.2   +52 57 43    14.517   14.070   61.9    3.6   276   30.8 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   22 51 34.8   +53 01 13    14.516   14.075   62.3    3.6   275   30.8 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   22 51 38.0   +53 04 42    14.515   14.080   62.7    3.7   274   30.8 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   22 51 40.8   +53 08 12    14.513   14.086   63.1    3.7   274   30.8 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   22 51 43.2   +53 11 43    14.512   14.091   63.5    3.7   273   30.8 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   22 51 45.2   +53 15 13    14.510   14.096   64.0    3.7   272   30.8 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   22 51 46.7   +53 18 44    14.509   14.101   64.4    3.7   271   30.8 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   22 51 47.9   +53 22 15    14.507   14.106   64.8    3.7   270   30.8 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   22 51 48.7   +53 25 46    14.505   14.112   65.3    3.7   269   30.8 

    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.