C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Dec 2019	9.8	2.327 AU	1.519 AU	03h34m	+53°35'	135.7°	17.2°	116°
Perihelion	5 May 2020	8.6	1.607 AU	1.695 AU	06h59m	+75°56'	67.5°	35.4°	67°
Today	22 Oct 2024	21.4	13.800 AU	14.072 AU	18h34m	-64°30'	72.2°	3.9°	102°

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)                : 0.9989400
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6065940
            i (Inclination)                 : 57.29340
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 64.45180
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 92.80050
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -20.37530
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 57.18699
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458975.04940
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 59006.58

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 21
            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[∆] + 8.78 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
2024-10-22 00:00 UT   18 34 47.7   -64 30 46    14.068   13.799   72.4    3.9   102   21.4 
2024-10-22 05:44 UT   18 34 52.3   -64 30 13    14.072   13.800   72.2    3.9   102   21.4 
2024-10-23 00:00 UT   18 35 07.1   -64 28 30    14.085   13.805   71.7    3.9   102   21.4 
2024-10-24 00:00 UT   18 35 27.0   -64 26 15    14.103   13.811   71.0    3.9   103   21.4 
2024-10-25 00:00 UT   18 35 47.5   -64 24 01    14.121   13.817   70.3    3.9   104   21.4 
2024-10-26 00:00 UT   18 36 08.5   -64 21 48    14.138   13.824   69.6    3.9   104   21.5 
2024-10-27 00:00 UT   18 36 30.0   -64 19 36    14.156   13.830   68.9    3.8   105   21.5 
2024-10-28 00:00 UT   18 36 51.9   -64 17 26    14.173   13.836   68.2    3.8   105   21.5 
2024-10-29 00:00 UT   18 37 14.4   -64 15 16    14.190   13.842   67.6    3.8   106   21.5 
2024-10-30 00:00 UT   18 37 37.3   -64 13 08    14.207   13.848   66.9    3.8   107   21.5 
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   18 38 00.8   -64 11 01    14.224   13.854   66.2    3.8   107   21.5 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   18 38 24.7   -64 08 55    14.241   13.860   65.6    3.7   108   21.5 

    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.