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° |
C/2017 P2 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-04-18
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 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.