C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 17 Jul 2018 | 12.6 | 2.660 AU | 3.635 AU | 08h25m | +31°46' | 13.9° | 5.3° | 43° |
Nearest approach | 23 Dec 2018 | 12.7 | 3.131 AU | 2.365 AU | 07h39m | -16°10' | 134.1° | 13.0° | 329° |
Today | 28 Mar 2024 | 26.9 | 15.669 AU | 16.074 AU | 01h05m | -60°53' | 64.4° | 3.3° | 170° |
C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-03-28
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/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9971130
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.6600380
i (Inclination) : 105.87920
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 298.86310
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 162.56290
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 303.77496
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 16.75165
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458316.67060
P (Orbital period in years) : 27968.01
Epoch : 2023 Sep 24
Reference : MPEC 2021-P47
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 (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.73 + 5 log[∆] + 14.35 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
2024-03-28 00:00 UT 01 05 04.0 -60 54 30 16.073 15.667 64.3 3.3 170 26.9
2024-03-28 12:09 UT 01 05 15.7 -60 53 55 16.074 15.669 64.4 3.3 170 26.9
2024-03-29 00:00 UT 01 05 27.2 -60 53 22 16.074 15.672 64.6 3.3 170 26.9
2024-03-30 00:00 UT 01 05 50.4 -60 52 18 16.075 15.678 64.9 3.3 171 26.9
2024-03-31 00:00 UT 01 06 13.7 -60 51 17 16.075 15.683 65.2 3.3 172 26.9
2024-04-01 00:00 UT 01 06 37.0 -60 50 19 16.076 15.689 65.5 3.3 173 26.9
2024-04-02 00:00 UT 01 07 00.3 -60 49 24 16.076 15.695 65.9 3.3 174 26.9
2024-04-03 00:00 UT 01 07 23.7 -60 48 32 16.077 15.700 66.2 3.3 175 26.9
2024-04-04 00:00 UT 01 07 47.1 -60 47 44 16.077 15.706 66.5 3.3 176 26.9
2024-04-05 00:00 UT 01 08 10.5 -60 46 59 16.077 15.711 66.9 3.4 177 26.9
2024-04-06 00:00 UT 01 08 33.9 -60 46 17 16.077 15.717 67.2 3.4 178 26.9
2024-04-07 00:00 UT 01 08 57.4 -60 45 38 16.076 15.722 67.6 3.4 179 26.9
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.