C/2015 V4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Aug 2016	19.8	5.456 AU	6.214 AU	09h09m	-23°28'	38.2°	6.6°	212°
Nearest approach	1 Mar 2017	19.3	5.574 AU	4.740 AU	09h54m	-25°41'	144.3°	6.0°	23°
Today	9 May 2024	26.0	14.803 AU	14.240 AU	16h21m	+37°32'	122.2°	3.3°	201°

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/2015 V4 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7043240
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4561580
            i (Inclination)                 : 60.79850
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.95140
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 306.90560
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 146.94098
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.26684
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457628.43080
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 79.27

            Epoch                           : 2021 Sep 25
            Reference                       : MPC104791

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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. (8.50 + 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 21 37.8   +37 31 53    14.238   14.801  122.2    3.3   202   26.0 
2024-05-09 12:59 UT   16 21 29.5   +37 32 47    14.240   14.803  122.2    3.3   201   26.0 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   16 21 22.5   +37 33 32    14.241   14.805  122.2    3.3   201   26.0 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   16 21 07.1   +37 35 07    14.244   14.808  122.2    3.3   199   26.0 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   16 20 51.6   +37 36 39    14.248   14.811  122.2    3.3   198   26.0 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   16 20 36.0   +37 38 07    14.251   14.815  122.2    3.3   197   26.0 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   16 20 20.4   +37 39 32    14.255   14.818  122.2    3.3   196   26.0 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   16 20 04.6   +37 40 53    14.258   14.821  122.1    3.3   195   26.0 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   16 19 48.8   +37 42 10    14.262   14.825  122.1    3.3   193   26.0 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   16 19 32.9   +37 43 24    14.267   14.828  122.0    3.3   192   26.0 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   16 19 16.9   +37 44 35    14.271   14.831  122.0    3.3   191   26.0 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   16 19 00.9   +37 45 41    14.275   14.835  121.9    3.3   190   26.0 

    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.