C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	9 Dec 2015	9.1	2.073 AU	1.887 AU	16h52m	+63°32'	86.4°	28.3°	357°
Nearest approach	26 Feb 2016	9.4	2.270 AU	1.808 AU	15h18m	+70°56'	104.6°	25.0°	254°
Today	5 Feb 2025	24.8	22.351 AU	22.267 AU	12h57m	-57°39'	93.6°	2.5°	308°

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/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9877510
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0730450
            i (Inclination)                 : 64.57130
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.21520
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 87.19600
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 91.70788
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 64.42740
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457366.47310
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 2201.72

            Epoch                           : 2022 Mar 31
            Reference                       : MPC104790

            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 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 (10.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.59 + 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
2025-02-05 00:00 UT   12 57 10.2   -57 38 17    22.271   22.349   93.2    2.5   307   24.8 
2025-02-05 11:47 UT   12 57 05.6   -57 39 07    22.267   22.351   93.6    2.5   308   24.8 
2025-02-06 00:00 UT   12 57 00.7   -57 39 59    22.263   22.353   93.9    2.5   308   24.8 
2025-02-07 00:00 UT   12 56 51.0   -57 41 40    22.256   22.358   94.6    2.5   309   24.8 
2025-02-08 00:00 UT   12 56 41.0   -57 43 19    22.249   22.363   95.3    2.5   310   24.8 
2025-02-09 00:00 UT   12 56 30.7   -57 44 56    22.242   22.368   96.0    2.5   310   24.8 
2025-02-10 00:00 UT   12 56 20.1   -57 46 31    22.235   22.372   96.7    2.5   311   24.8 
2025-02-11 00:00 UT   12 56 09.2   -57 48 05    22.228   22.377   97.4    2.5   312   24.8 
2025-02-12 00:00 UT   12 55 58.1   -57 49 37    22.221   22.382   98.1    2.5   313   24.8 
2025-02-13 00:00 UT   12 55 46.6   -57 51 06    22.214   22.386   98.8    2.5   314   24.8 
2025-02-14 00:00 UT   12 55 34.9   -57 52 34    22.207   22.391   99.5    2.5   314   24.8 
2025-02-15 00:00 UT   12 55 22.9   -57 54 00    22.200   22.396  100.2    2.5   315   24.8 

    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.