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Sky-Tonight.com / Comets / 90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Comet 90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner Observation Details

21P/Giacobini-Zinner

21P/Giacobini-Zinner Daily Motion


90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner will be visible until May, 22, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.

21P/Giacobini-Zinner Visibility on April 02

90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is visible from sunset through most of the night

21P/Giacobini-Zinner Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
21P/Giacobini-Zinner rise13:58
Sunset17:2934°
Moon Rise, 99.9% illuminated 17:3034°
Civil sunset17:5737°
Astrosession begin18:5941°
21P/Giacobini-Zinner transit19:2141°
21P/Giacobini-Zinner set00:43
Astrosession end03:22-31°
Moon Set04:55-49°

Track 21P/Giacobini-Zinner Position Throughout the Night

← Thu, 2 April 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe 21P/Giacobini-Zinner changing position in the night sky.

21P/Giacobini-Zinner Description

21P/Giacobini-Zinner, designated as 90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, is an Encke-type comet. At the moment, 90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is 3.131 AU (468,316,134 km) from Earth, and it is located in the constellation Hydra.

Current position of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner in Solar System

Earth 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
DateThu, 2 April 2026
Distance from Earth to 21P/Giacobini-Zinner3.1467 AU (470,739,620km)
Elongation123°
Angular diameter"
Magnitude20.5
This interactive projection shows the current positions of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, Earth, and the Sun in the Solar System. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year and see how 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and Earth move along their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object name90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner coordinates8.92672, -11.95033
Center coordinates8.92672, -11.95033

Annual motion of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Time
DateThu, 2 April 2026
Twighlight start18:55
Twighlight end03:17
Twighlight duration8h 22m
Rise13:54
Set00:39
Elevation at transit41°
Transit time19:17
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 08h 55m 30s", Dec: -11° 46' 49s
Magnitude21
ConstellationHydra
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit. You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of 90000323 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension8.92672°
Declination-11.95033°
Magnitude20.4
ConstellationHydra
Elevation-21.4°
Azimuth-88.9°

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for providing essential data on asteroids and comets through their Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). Their continuous efforts in tracking and cataloging these celestial bodies make it possible to offer accurate and up-to-date information on their positions, orbits, and physical characteristics.