C/2013 X1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Apr 2016	9.5	1.326 AU	1.984 AU	23h29m	-00°15'	36.9°	27.0°	251°
Nearest approach	21 Jun 2016	8.0	1.614 AU	0.656 AU	19h47m	-45°48'	148.9°	19.0°	307°
Today	1 Jul 2025	27.4	23.452 AU	23.753 AU	11h06m	-06°21'	71.5°	2.4°	117°

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/2013 X1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0005450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3256690
            i (Inclination)                 : 163.19370
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 131.57360
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 165.21110
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 145.75685
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.23254
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457497.95670

            Epoch                           : 2021 Jun 11
            Reference                       : MPC111767

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (10.50 + 5 log[∆] + 5.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 6.81 + 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
2025-07-01 00:00 UT   11 06 52.8   -06 21 15    23.752   23.451   71.6    2.4   117   27.4 
2025-07-01 01:10 UT   11 06 53.0   -06 21 14    23.753   23.452   71.5    2.4   117   27.4 
2025-07-02 00:00 UT   11 06 56.0   -06 21 04    23.773   23.456   70.7    2.3   117   27.4 
2025-07-03 00:00 UT   11 06 59.4   -06 20 54    23.793   23.461   69.7    2.3   117   27.4 
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   11 07 02.9   -06 20 46    23.814   23.466   68.8    2.3   118   27.4 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   11 07 06.5   -06 20 38    23.834   23.471   67.9    2.3   118   27.4 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   11 07 10.3   -06 20 32    23.854   23.476   67.0    2.3   118   27.4 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   11 07 14.2   -06 20 26    23.874   23.481   66.0    2.3   118   27.4 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   11 07 18.2   -06 20 22    23.894   23.486   65.1    2.3   118   27.4 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   11 07 22.3   -06 20 19    23.914   23.491   64.2    2.2   119   27.4 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   11 07 26.6   -06 20 17    23.934   23.496   63.3    2.2   119   27.4 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   11 07 31.0   -06 20 15    23.954   23.500   62.4    2.2   119   27.4 

    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.