P/2021 N2 (Fuls)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach30 Oct 202116.33.805 AU2.812 AU02h17m+15°17'178.5°0.4°176°
Perihelion14 Nov 202116.33.804 AU2.846 AU02h10m+13°54'163.2°4.3°73°
Today5 Feb 202520.56.913 AU6.017 AU10h23m-04°43'153.5°3.6°321°
P/2021 N2 (Fuls)- 2025-02-05
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 P/2021 N2 (Fuls) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4523270
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.8042550
            i (Inclination)                 : 13.06080
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 221.73720
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 177.61490
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 219.41373
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 0.53885
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459532.83250
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 18.31

            Epoch                           : 2025 Feb 04
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-GJ3

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.757
        

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 (9.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.21 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-02-05 00:00 UT   10 23 59.2   -04 44 47     6.019    6.912  153.0    3.7   321   20.5 
2025-02-05 14:08 UT   10 23 45.7   -04 43 46     6.017    6.913  153.5    3.6   321   20.5 
2025-02-06 00:00 UT   10 23 36.3   -04 43 03     6.015    6.915  153.9    3.6   322   20.5 
2025-02-07 00:00 UT   10 23 13.3   -04 41 16     6.012    6.918  154.9    3.5   323   20.5 
2025-02-08 00:00 UT   10 22 50.1   -04 39 26     6.009    6.921  155.8    3.4   325   20.5 
2025-02-09 00:00 UT   10 22 26.6   -04 37 31     6.006    6.924  156.7    3.2   326   20.5 
2025-02-10 00:00 UT   10 22 03.1   -04 35 33     6.004    6.927  157.6    3.1   328   20.5 
2025-02-11 00:00 UT   10 21 39.3   -04 33 32     6.002    6.929  158.4    3.0   330   20.5 
2025-02-12 00:00 UT   10 21 15.4   -04 31 27     6.000    6.932  159.3    2.9   332   20.5 
2025-02-13 00:00 UT   10 20 51.4   -04 29 19     5.999    6.935  160.1    2.8   334   20.5 
2025-02-14 00:00 UT   10 20 27.3   -04 27 07     5.998    6.938  160.9    2.7   337   20.5 
2025-02-15 00:00 UT   10 20 03.1   -04 24 53     5.997    6.941  161.6    2.6   339   20.5 

































































    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.