C/2017 F2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	27 Nov 2017	20.2	6.900 AU	7.346 AU	13h19m	+20°41'	59.6°	7.1°	312°
Nearest approach	31 Mar 2018	19.8	6.947 AU	6.042 AU	13h23m	+20°29'	153.0°	3.7°	206°
Today	25 Oct 2026	26.9	19.590 AU	20.001 AU	17h57m	-59°09'	64.3°	2.6°	111°

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. 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. (7.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2017 F2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0024090
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.8997340
    i (Inclination)                 : 42.52450
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 38.62360
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 134.79190
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 2.03483
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 28.66385
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458085.05050

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 23
    Reference                       : MPC194151

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-10-24 00:00 UT   17 57 09.5   -59 12 03    19.973   19.583   65.5    2.7   109   26.9 
2026-10-25 00:00 UT   17 57 26.1   -59 10 50    19.989   19.587   64.8    2.6   110   26.9 
2026-10-25 17:02 UT   17 57 38.1   -59 09 59    20.001   19.590   64.3    2.6   111   26.9 
2026-10-26 00:00 UT   17 57 43.0   -59 09 39    20.005   19.592   64.1    2.6   111   26.9 
2026-10-27 00:00 UT   17 58 00.2   -59 08 28    20.021   19.596   63.4    2.6   111   26.9 
2026-10-28 00:00 UT   17 58 17.7   -59 07 18    20.037   19.601   62.6    2.6   112   26.9 
2026-10-29 00:00 UT   17 58 35.4   -59 06 09    20.053   19.605   61.9    2.6   113   26.9 
2026-10-30 00:00 UT   17 58 53.5   -59 05 02    20.068   19.609   61.2    2.5   113   26.9 
2026-10-31 00:00 UT   17 59 11.8   -59 03 55    20.084   19.614   60.5    2.5   114   26.9 
2026-11-01 00:00 UT   17 59 30.3   -59 02 49    20.099   19.618   59.8    2.5   115   26.9 
2026-11-02 00:00 UT   17 59 49.2   -59 01 44    20.114   19.623   59.0    2.5   115   26.9 
2026-11-03 00:00 UT   18 00 08.3   -59 00 41    20.129   19.627   58.3    2.5   116   26.9 
2026-11-04 00:00 UT   18 00 27.6   -58 59 38    20.144   19.632   57.6    2.4   117   27.0 

    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.