C/2017 E3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	25 Apr 2017	16.2	5.942 AU	5.079 AU	12h47m	-41°32'	146.4°	5.4°	39°
Perihelion	7 Jun 2017	16.3	5.935 AU	5.329 AU	12h39m	-33°45'	122.3°	8.3°	97°
Today	18 Jul 2025	26.5	18.622 AU	18.302 AU	18h49m	+50°53'	106.8°	3.0°	164°

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/2017 E3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0056920
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.9345350
            i (Inclination)                 : 70.66520
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 220.80610
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 334.43580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 211.80655
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -24.02808
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457911.59990

            Epoch                           : 2022 Jul 23
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-O08

            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 (6.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently .89 + 5 log[∆] + 15.22 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
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   18 49 17.9   +50 53 37    18.297   18.617  106.8    3.0   165   26.5 
2025-07-18 22:47 UT   18 49 02.6   +50 53 03    18.302   18.622  106.8    3.0   164   26.5 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   18 49 01.8   +50 53 01    18.302   18.622  106.8    3.0   164   26.5 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   18 48 45.9   +50 52 22    18.306   18.627  106.8    3.0   163   26.5 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   18 48 30.0   +50 51 40    18.311   18.632  106.8    3.0   162   26.5 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   18 48 14.3   +50 50 55    18.316   18.636  106.8    3.0   161   26.5 
2025-07-23 00:00 UT   18 47 58.7   +50 50 07    18.321   18.641  106.8    3.0   160   26.5 
2025-07-24 00:00 UT   18 47 43.2   +50 49 16    18.326   18.646  106.8    3.0   159   26.6 
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   18 47 27.9   +50 48 22    18.331   18.650  106.8    3.0   158   26.6 
2025-07-26 00:00 UT   18 47 12.7   +50 47 25    18.336   18.655  106.7    3.0   157   26.6 
2025-07-27 00:00 UT   18 46 57.6   +50 46 25    18.342   18.660  106.7    3.0   156   26.6 
2025-07-28 00:00 UT   18 46 42.7   +50 45 22    18.347   18.664  106.7    3.0   155   26.6 

    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.