P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 5 Mar 2017 | 19.6 | 2.937 AU | 2.386 AU | 13h26m | +66°59' | 114.3° | 17.9° | 219° |
Perihelion | 9 Jun 2017 | 19.7 | 2.831 AU | 2.724 AU | 12h36m | +50°10' | 85.5° | 20.9° | 121° |
Today | 29 Mar 2024 | 29.1 | 11.668 AU | 12.283 AU | 00h28m | -46°34' | 50.1° | 3.8° | 181° |
P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-03-29
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.6480160
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.8308490
i (Inclination) : 47.96750
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 79.89000
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 105.28400
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 12.09219
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 45.76580
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2457913.53550
P (Orbital period in years) : 22.81
Epoch : 2024 Mar 28
Reference : MPC108595
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)
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. (13.00 + 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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT 00 28 26.9 -46 35 23 12.284 11.667 49.9 3.8 181 29.1
2024-03-29 11:01 UT 00 28 40.9 -46 34 39 12.283 11.668 50.1 3.8 181 29.1
2024-03-30 00:00 UT 00 28 57.3 -46 33 47 12.281 11.669 50.3 3.8 182 29.1
2024-03-31 00:00 UT 00 29 27.6 -46 32 14 12.278 11.671 50.7 3.8 183 29.1
2024-04-01 00:00 UT 00 29 57.9 -46 30 44 12.274 11.673 51.1 3.8 184 29.1
2024-04-02 00:00 UT 00 30 28.1 -46 29 18 12.271 11.675 51.5 3.8 185 29.1
2024-04-03 00:00 UT 00 30 58.3 -46 27 55 12.267 11.677 51.9 3.9 186 29.1
2024-04-04 00:00 UT 00 31 28.5 -46 26 35 12.263 11.679 52.3 3.9 187 29.1
2024-04-05 00:00 UT 00 31 58.6 -46 25 18 12.259 11.681 52.8 3.9 188 29.1
2024-04-06 00:00 UT 00 32 28.7 -46 24 05 12.254 11.683 53.2 3.9 189 29.1
2024-04-07 00:00 UT 00 32 58.7 -46 22 55 12.250 11.684 53.6 4.0 190 29.1
2024-04-08 00:00 UT 00 33 28.7 -46 21 49 12.245 11.686 54.1 4.0 190 29.1
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.