C/2017 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Aug 2017	20.8	3.615 AU	2.825 AU	01h34m	-04°13'	135.5°	11.3°	262°
Nearest approach	7 Oct 2017	20.7	3.628 AU	2.648 AU	01h23m	-04°51'	166.9°	3.6°	321°
Today	18 Apr 2024	30.5	14.771 AU	14.444 AU	09h32m	+27°56'	107.2°	3.7°	113°

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 S2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8249800
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.6154510
            i (Inclination)                 : 12.66860
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 62.31720
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 306.14360
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 9.13586
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -10.20107
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457996.31940
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 93.89

            Epoch                           : 2022 Sep 14
            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
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   09 32 56.4   +27 57 14    14.428   14.768  107.9    3.7   113   30.5 
2024-04-18 19:06 UT   09 32 53.6   +27 56 46    14.444   14.771  107.2    3.7   113   30.5 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   09 32 52.9   +27 56 39    14.448   14.772  107.0    3.7   113   30.5 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   09 32 49.7   +27 56 02    14.467   14.776  106.0    3.7   113   30.5 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   09 32 46.7   +27 55 24    14.487   14.780  105.0    3.8   113   30.5 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   09 32 44.1   +27 54 44    14.507   14.784  104.1    3.8   112   30.5 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   09 32 41.7   +27 54 03    14.527   14.789  103.1    3.8   112   30.5 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   09 32 39.7   +27 53 20    14.547   14.793  102.2    3.8   112   30.5 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   09 32 37.9   +27 52 36    14.568   14.797  101.2    3.8   112   30.5 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   09 32 36.4   +27 51 51    14.588   14.801  100.3    3.8   111   30.5 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   09 32 35.2   +27 51 05    14.608   14.805   99.3    3.8   111   30.5 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   09 32 34.2   +27 50 17    14.628   14.809   98.4    3.9   111   30.5 

    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.