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 | 9 May 2024 | 27.1 | 27.758 AU | 26.987 AU | 16h29m | +18°08' | 139.0° | 1.4° | 211° |
C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-05-09
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 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)
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 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. (5.50 + 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT 16 29 32.4 +18 07 59 26.986 27.754 138.8 1.4 212 27.1
2024-05-09 19:39 UT 16 29 25.5 +18 08 31 26.987 27.758 139.0 1.4 211 27.1
2024-05-10 00:00 UT 16 29 24.0 +18 08 38 26.987 27.759 139.1 1.4 210 27.1
2024-05-11 00:00 UT 16 29 15.4 +18 09 17 26.989 27.763 139.3 1.4 209 27.1
2024-05-12 00:00 UT 16 29 06.8 +18 09 54 26.991 27.768 139.5 1.4 207 27.1
2024-05-13 00:00 UT 16 28 58.2 +18 10 30 26.993 27.772 139.7 1.3 206 27.1
2024-05-14 00:00 UT 16 28 49.5 +18 11 04 26.996 27.777 139.9 1.3 204 27.1
2024-05-15 00:00 UT 16 28 40.8 +18 11 37 26.998 27.782 140.1 1.3 203 27.1
2024-05-16 00:00 UT 16 28 32.0 +18 12 09 27.001 27.786 140.2 1.3 201 27.1
2024-05-17 00:00 UT 16 28 23.2 +18 12 39 27.004 27.791 140.3 1.3 200 27.1
2024-05-18 00:00 UT 16 28 14.4 +18 13 08 27.008 27.795 140.4 1.3 198 27.1
2024-05-19 00:00 UT 16 28 05.6 +18 13 36 27.011 27.800 140.5 1.3 197 27.1
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.