C/2021 A6 PanSTARRS
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Comet C/2021 A6 was discovered on 8 January 2021, about 4 months before its perihelion passage; later a series of prediscovery images was found from 22 December 2020 and 26 November 2020. This comet was observed until 28 July 2024 (as in February 2025).
Comet had its closest approach to the Earth on 4 March 2021 (6.97 au); two months before the perihelion passage.
Solution given here is based on data span over 3.67 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 7.99 au – 7.93 au (perihelion) – 10.59 au. Orbits based on pre-perihelion and post-perihelion data were also obtained, separately.
This Oort spike comet suffers tiny planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system that lead to a bit tight future orbit.
Comet had its closest approach to the Earth on 4 March 2021 (6.97 au); two months before the perihelion passage.
Solution given here is based on data span over 3.67 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 7.99 au – 7.93 au (perihelion) – 10.59 au. Orbits based on pre-perihelion and post-perihelion data were also obtained, separately.
This Oort spike comet suffers tiny planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system that lead to a bit tight future orbit.
| solution description | ||
|---|---|---|
| number of observations | 168 | |
| data interval | 2020 11 26 – 2024 07 28 | |
| data type | perihelion within the observation arc (FULL) | |
| data arc selection | entire data set (STD) | |
| range of heliocentric distances | 7.99 au – 7.93 au (perihelion) – 10.59 au | |
| detectability of NG effects in the comet's motion | NG effects not determinable | |
| type of model of motion | GR - gravitational orbit | |
| data weighting | YES | |
| number of residuals | 326 | |
| RMS [arcseconds] | 0.22 | |
| orbit quality class | 1a+ | |
| orbital elements (barycentric ecliptic J2000) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Epoch | 2332 11 12 | |
| perihelion date | 2021 05 04.46639507 | ± 0.00097413 |
| perihelion distance [au] | 7.93747028 | ± 0.00000419 |
| eccentricity | 0.99912424 | ± 0.00000322 |
| argument of perihelion [°] | 351.719396 | ± 0.000060 |
| ascending node [°] | 164.052660 | ± 0.000003 |
| inclination [°] | 75.548918 | ± 0.00001 |
| reciprocal semi-major axis [10-6 au-1] | 110.33 | ± 0.41 |
| file containing 5001 VCs swarm |
|---|
| 2021a6a5.bpl |
Upper panel: Time distribution of positional observations with corresponding heliocentric (red curve) and geocentric (green curve) distance at which they were taken. The horizontal dotted line shows the perihelion distance for a given comet whereas vertical dotted line — the moment of perihelion passage.
Middle panel(s): O-C diagram for a given solution (sometimes in comparison to another solution available in CODE), where residuals in right ascension are shown using magenta dots and in declination by blue open circles.
Lowest panel: Relative weights for a given data set(s).
Middle panel(s): O-C diagram for a given solution (sometimes in comparison to another solution available in CODE), where residuals in right ascension are shown using magenta dots and in declination by blue open circles.
Lowest panel: Relative weights for a given data set(s).
Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of future swarm including 5001 VCs. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.