C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	22 Dec 2017	11.6	2.984 AU	2.064 AU	04h33m	+10°22'	155.0°	8.0°	56°
Perihelion	11 May 2018	11.9	2.594 AU	3.289 AU	05h33m	+44°52'	39.7°	14.4°	59°
Today	27 Oct 2025	26.2	19.126 AU	19.875 AU	16h52m	-14°31'	40.1°	1.9°	87°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.3 + 5 log[∆] + 12.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9954280
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5939650
    i (Inclination)                 : 58.38850
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 80.46990
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 33.16690
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 99.37963
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 27.76881
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458250.31840
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 13514.09

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 26
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   16 51 53.1   -14 29 43    19.851   19.118   41.5    2.0    88   26.2 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   16 52 03.2   -14 30 34    19.867   19.124   40.6    1.9    87   26.2 
2025-10-27 12:41 UT   16 52 08.6   -14 31 01    19.875   19.126   40.1    1.9    87   26.2 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   16 52 13.4   -14 31 25    19.883   19.129   39.7    1.9    87   26.2 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   16 52 23.8   -14 32 15    19.898   19.134   38.7    1.9    87   26.2 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   16 52 34.2   -14 33 06    19.914   19.139   37.8    1.8    86   26.2 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   16 52 44.8   -14 33 56    19.929   19.144   36.9    1.8    86   26.2 
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   16 52 55.5   -14 34 46    19.943   19.149   35.9    1.7    86   26.2 
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   16 53 06.3   -14 35 36    19.958   19.154   35.0    1.7    85   26.2 
2025-11-03 00:00 UT   16 53 17.3   -14 36 25    19.973   19.159   34.1    1.7    85   26.2 
2025-11-04 00:00 UT   16 53 28.3   -14 37 15    19.987   19.165   33.1    1.6    84   26.2 
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   16 53 39.4   -14 38 03    20.001   19.170   32.2    1.6    84   26.2 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   16 53 50.6   -14 38 52    20.014   19.175   31.3    1.5    83   26.2 

    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.