C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach28 Dec 20199.82.324 AU1.518 AU03h35m+53°58'135.6°17.2°116°
Perihelion5 May 20208.61.609 AU1.694 AU06h58m+76°06'67.7°35.4°67°
Today29 Mar 202420.812.504 AU12.532 AU19h35m-62°54'86.1°4.6°254°
C/2017 T2 (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 C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9989190
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6091090
            i (Inclination)                 : 57.29070
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 64.44780
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 92.83460
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -20.31694
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 57.18170
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458974.70400
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 57430.11

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 28
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-A43

            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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.69 + 5 log[∆] + 8.79 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   19 35 28.3   -62 53 13    12.535   12.501   85.8    4.6   254   20.8 
2024-03-29 10:21 UT   19 35 34.4   -62 54 36    12.532   12.504   86.1    4.6   254   20.8 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   19 35 42.3   -62 56 27    12.528   12.508   86.5    4.6   255   20.8 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   19 35 55.7   -62 59 43    12.522   12.514   87.2    4.6   255   20.8 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   19 36 08.5   -63 03 01    12.516   12.520   88.0    4.6   256   20.8 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   19 36 20.7   -63 06 19    12.509   12.527   88.7    4.6   256   20.8 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   19 36 32.2   -63 09 39    12.503   12.533   89.4    4.6   257   20.8 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   19 36 43.1   -63 13 01    12.496   12.540   90.2    4.6   258   20.8 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   19 36 53.3   -63 16 23    12.490   12.546   90.9    4.6   258   20.8 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   19 37 02.8   -63 19 47    12.483   12.552   91.6    4.6   259   20.8 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   19 37 11.7   -63 23 11    12.477   12.559   92.4    4.6   260   20.8 
2024-04-08 00:00 UT   19 37 19.9   -63 26 37    12.470   12.565   93.1    4.6   260   20.8 


    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.