C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Mar 2013	0.7	0.320 AU	1.089 AU	23h55m	-16°05'	16.9°	64.0°	123°
Perihelion	8 Mar 2013	0.4	0.296 AU	1.098 AU	00h14m	-05°54'	15.3°	61.8°	93°
Today	16 Jan 2026	27.8	30.511 AU	30.977 AU	16h31m	+15°28'	60.9°	1.6°	305°

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. (5.5 + 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/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9998370
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.2963480
    i (Inclination)                 : 84.04880
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 65.86430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 333.47960
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 62.90247
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -26.36641
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2456359.52500
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 77521.40

    Epoch                           : 2020 Sep 26
    Reference                       : MPC115880

    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
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   16 31 43.9   +15 28 07    30.984   30.506   60.0    1.6   306   27.8 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   16 31 49.5   +15 28 45    30.977   30.510   60.8    1.6   306   27.8 
2026-01-16 03:12 UT   16 31 50.2   +15 28 50    30.977   30.511   60.9    1.6   305   27.8 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   16 31 54.9   +15 29 24    30.971   30.514   61.5    1.6   305   27.8 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   16 32 00.3   +15 30 04    30.964   30.519   62.2    1.6   304   27.8 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   16 32 05.6   +15 30 45    30.957   30.523   63.0    1.6   303   27.8 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   16 32 10.7   +15 31 27    30.950   30.527   63.7    1.7   303   27.8 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   16 32 15.8   +15 32 11    30.942   30.532   64.5    1.7   302   27.8 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   16 32 20.7   +15 32 55    30.935   30.536   65.2    1.7   301   27.8 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   16 32 25.6   +15 33 40    30.927   30.540   66.0    1.7   300   27.8 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   16 32 30.3   +15 34 26    30.920   30.545   66.7    1.7   300   27.8 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   16 32 34.9   +15 35 13    30.912   30.549   67.5    1.7   299   27.8 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   16 32 39.4   +15 36 00    30.904   30.554   68.2    1.7   298   27.8 

    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.