C/2017 F2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	25 Nov 2017	20.2	6.921 AU	7.397 AU	13h19m	+20°35'	57.8°	6.9°	313°
Nearest approach	31 Mar 2018	19.8	6.970 AU	6.065 AU	13h24m	+20°16'	153.1°	3.7°	206°
Today	26 Apr 2024	25.3	15.460 AU	14.869 AU	17h23m	-56°17'	124.4°	3.1°	301°

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 F2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0016210
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.9213670
            i (Inclination)                 : 42.56130
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 38.71180
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 134.85940
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 2.20377
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 28.64910
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458082.87840

            Epoch                           : 2023 Jan 31
            Reference                       : MPC114598

            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 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. (7.50 + 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   17 24 04.2   -56 16 02    14.872   15.458  124.0    3.1   300   25.3 
2024-04-26 13:14 UT   17 23 56.4   -56 17 05    14.869   15.460  124.4    3.1   301   25.3 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   17 23 50.0   -56 17 56    14.866   15.462  124.8    3.1   301   25.3 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   17 23 35.4   -56 19 48    14.860   15.467  125.5    3.0   302   25.3 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   17 23 20.4   -56 21 39    14.855   15.472  126.2    3.0   303   25.3 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   17 23 05.1   -56 23 28    14.849   15.476  127.0    3.0   304   25.3 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   17 22 49.4   -56 25 15    14.844   15.481  127.7    3.0   305   25.3 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   17 22 33.4   -56 26 60    14.839   15.485  128.4    2.9   306   25.3 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   17 22 17.0   -56 28 43    14.834   15.490  129.1    2.9   307   25.3 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   17 22 00.2   -56 30 24    14.830   15.495  129.8    2.9   308   25.3 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   17 21 43.2   -56 32 04    14.825   15.499  130.5    2.8   309   25.3 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   17 21 25.8   -56 33 41    14.821   15.504  131.2    2.8   310   25.3 

    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.