C/2017 P2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Jul 2017	16.7	2.886 AU	2.593 AU	15h54m	+40°21'	96.3°	20.5°	124°
Perihelion	5 Dec 2017	16.4	2.479 AU	3.050 AU	19h20m	+05°27'	46.6°	16.8°	52°
Today	18 Apr 2024	28.6	17.162 AU	17.649 AU	04h57m	-25°50'	59.5°	2.9°	122°

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 C/2017 P2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9990140
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.4785780
            i (Inclination)                 : 50.04950
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 165.47060
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 132.53350
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 130.48108
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 34.39490
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458093.07870
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 126034.23

            Epoch                           : 2023 Jan 31
            Reference                       : MPC114599

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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. (10.00 + 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
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   04 57 55.8   -25 51 15    17.646   17.161   59.6    2.9   122   28.6 
2024-04-18 04:17 UT   04 57 57.9   -25 50 54    17.649   17.162   59.5    2.9   122   28.6 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   04 58 07.8   -25 49 14    17.659   17.167   59.2    2.9   123   28.6 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   04 58 19.9   -25 47 15    17.672   17.172   58.7    2.9   124   28.6 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   04 58 32.2   -25 45 17    17.684   17.177   58.2    2.9   125   28.6 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   04 58 44.7   -25 43 21    17.697   17.183   57.8    2.8   125   28.6 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   04 58 57.2   -25 41 27    17.709   17.188   57.4    2.8   126   28.6 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   04 59 10.0   -25 39 35    17.721   17.194   56.9    2.8   127   28.6 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   04 59 22.9   -25 37 44    17.733   17.199   56.5    2.8   128   28.6 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   04 59 35.9   -25 35 56    17.745   17.204   56.1    2.8   129   28.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   04 59 49.0   -25 34 09    17.757   17.210   55.7    2.8   130   28.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   05 00 02.3   -25 32 24    17.769   17.215   55.3    2.8   131   28.6 

    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.