P/2017 G1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	13 Mar 2026	29.7	11.868 AU	12.402 AU	19h55m	-17°08'	55.6°	4.0°	261°
Perihelion	6 Aug 2035	20.2	2.510 AU	3.473 AU	07h59m	+17°53'	15.4°	6.2°	272°
Nearest approach	25 Feb 2036	20.0	3.048 AU	2.099 AU	11h29m	-04°43'	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)                : 0.6510150
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5097870
    i (Inclination)                 : 5.15340
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 247.11820
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 225.29730
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 292.29947
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.66042
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2464546.19410
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 19.29

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   19 55 00.7   -17 10 30    12.429   11.868   53.7    3.9   262   29.7 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   19 55 15.6   -17 09 31    12.415   11.868   54.7    3.9   261   29.7 
2026-03-13 23:43 UT   19 55 30.1   -17 08 32    12.402   11.868   55.6    4.0   261   29.7 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   19 55 30.3   -17 08 32    12.402   11.868   55.6    4.0   261   29.7 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   19 55 44.7   -17 07 33    12.387   11.868   56.5    4.0   261   29.7 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   19 55 58.8   -17 06 35    12.373   11.868   57.5    4.1   261   29.7 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   19 56 12.7   -17 05 38    12.359   11.868   58.4    4.1   261   29.7 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   19 56 26.4   -17 04 41    12.344   11.868   59.3    4.1   261   29.7 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   19 56 39.7   -17 03 44    12.330   11.867   60.3    4.2   261   29.7 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   19 56 52.8   -17 02 48    12.315   11.867   61.2    4.2   261   29.7 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   19 57 05.6   -17 01 52    12.300   11.867   62.1    4.3   261   29.7 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   19 57 18.2   -17 00 57    12.285   11.867   63.1    4.3   261   29.7 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   19 57 30.4   -17 00 03    12.270   11.867   64.0    4.3   260   29.7 

    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.