P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach5 Mar 201719.62.937 AU2.386 AU13h26m+66°59'114.3°17.9°219°
Perihelion9 Jun 201719.72.831 AU2.724 AU12h36m+50°10'85.5°20.9°121°
Today29 Mar 202429.111.668 AU12.283 AU00h28m-46°34'50.1°3.8°181°
P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-03-29
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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.