P/2017 G1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	14 Feb 2026	29.8	11.871 AU	12.715 AU	19h47m	-17°37'	30.1°	2.4°	266°
Perihelion	5 Aug 2035	20.2	2.510 AU	3.477 AU	07h58m	+17°57'	14.9°	5.9°	271°
Nearest approach	25 Feb 2036	20.0	3.052 AU	2.103 AU	11h30m	-04°46'	160.0°	6.4°	314°

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. (13.5 + 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 P/2017 G1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6509850
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5100560
    i (Inclination)                 : 5.15430
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 247.12870
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 225.27600
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 292.28863
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.65971
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457500.91880
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 19.29

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-C04

    Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
    Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.501

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-13 00:00 UT   19 46 57.1   -17 38 42    12.728   11.871   28.7    2.3   266   29.8 
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   19 47 17.4   -17 37 38    12.720   11.871   29.6    2.4   266   29.8 
2026-02-14 12:24 UT   19 47 27.8   -17 37 05    12.715   11.871   30.1    2.4   266   29.8 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   19 47 37.5   -17 36 34    12.711   11.871   30.5    2.4   266   29.8 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   19 47 57.4   -17 35 30    12.702   11.871   31.4    2.5   265   29.8 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   19 48 17.3   -17 34 26    12.694   11.871   32.4    2.6   265   29.8 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   19 48 36.9   -17 33 22    12.684   11.871   33.3    2.6   265   29.8 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   19 48 56.4   -17 32 18    12.675   11.871   34.2    2.7   265   29.8 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   19 49 15.7   -17 31 14    12.665   11.870   35.1    2.7   264   29.8 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   19 49 34.9   -17 30 10    12.655   11.870   36.1    2.8   264   29.8 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   19 49 53.8   -17 29 06    12.645   11.870   37.0    2.9   264   29.8 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   19 50 12.6   -17 28 02    12.635   11.870   37.9    2.9   264   29.8 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   19 50 31.2   -17 26 59    12.625   11.870   38.8    3.0   264   29.8 

    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.