C/2021 E3 (ZTF)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	31 May 2022	9.7	1.783 AU	1.223 AU	00h47m	-78°46'	105.3°	33.3°	233°
Perihelion	10 Jun 2022	9.7	1.778 AU	1.264 AU	06h10m	-78°41'	102.0°	33.9°	166°
Today	13 Jun 2026	27.4	12.640 AU	13.591 AU	06h49m	+27°02'	19.7°	1.5°	83°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.5 + 5 log[∆] + 14.7 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 E3 (ZTF) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9993600
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7780070
    i (Inclination)                 : 112.52340
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 104.48410
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 228.77470
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 80.87025
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.00764
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459740.83850
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 146430.06

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jun 12
    Reference                       : MPC194173

    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
2026-06-12 00:00 UT   06 49 36.0   +27 02 40    13.576   12.632   20.7    1.6    84   27.4 
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   06 49 53.3   +27 02 51    13.588   12.638   19.9    1.6    84   27.4 
2026-06-13 05:50 UT   06 49 57.5   +27 02 53    13.591   12.640   19.7    1.5    83   27.4 
2026-06-14 00:00 UT   06 50 10.7   +27 03 01    13.600   12.644   19.0    1.5    83   27.4 
2026-06-15 00:00 UT   06 50 28.1   +27 03 11    13.612   12.651   18.1    1.4    82   27.4 
2026-06-16 00:00 UT   06 50 45.6   +27 03 22    13.623   12.657   17.3    1.4    82   27.4 
2026-06-17 00:00 UT   06 51 03.2   +27 03 32    13.634   12.663   16.4    1.3    81   27.4 
2026-06-18 00:00 UT   06 51 20.8   +27 03 43    13.645   12.670   15.6    1.2    80   27.4 
2026-06-19 00:00 UT   06 51 38.5   +27 03 53    13.656   12.676   14.7    1.2    79   27.4 
2026-06-20 00:00 UT   06 51 56.2   +27 04 04    13.666   12.682   13.9    1.1    78   27.4 
2026-06-21 00:00 UT   06 52 14.0   +27 04 15    13.676   12.689   13.0    1.0    77   27.4 
2026-06-22 00:00 UT   06 52 31.8   +27 04 25    13.686   12.695   12.2    1.0    75   27.4 
2026-06-23 00:00 UT   06 52 49.7   +27 04 36    13.696   12.701   11.4    0.9    74   27.4 

    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.