C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 28 Dec 2019 | 9.8 | 2.332 AU | 1.523 AU | 03h34m | +52°57' | 136.0° | 17.0° | 115° |
Perihelion | 6 May 2020 | 8.6 | 1.603 AU | 1.698 AU | 07h01m | +75°36' | 67.1° | 35.4° | 67° |
Today | 29 Aug 2025 | 22.1 | 15.658 AU | 15.250 AU | 19h03m | -68°23' | 112.1° | 3.4° | 57° |
C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-08-29
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 T2 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9990130
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.6030510
i (Inclination) : 57.28090
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 64.43090
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 92.77330
L (Longitude of perihelion) : -20.44798
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 57.17660
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458975.71400
P (Orbital period in years) : 65455.37
Epoch : 2025 Aug 27
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[∆] + 8.76 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
2025-08-29 00:00 UT 19 04 07.4 -68 24 08 15.243 15.655 112.3 3.4 56 22.1
2025-08-29 09:16 UT 19 03 59.3 -68 23 28 15.250 15.658 112.1 3.4 57 22.1
2025-08-30 00:00 UT 19 03 46.6 -68 22 22 15.259 15.661 111.7 3.4 57 22.1
2025-08-31 00:00 UT 19 03 26.4 -68 20 33 15.276 15.667 111.1 3.4 58 22.1
2025-09-01 00:00 UT 19 03 06.9 -68 18 43 15.292 15.673 110.4 3.5 59 22.1
2025-09-02 00:00 UT 19 02 48.0 -68 16 51 15.308 15.679 109.8 3.5 60 22.1
2025-09-03 00:00 UT 19 02 29.9 -68 14 57 15.324 15.684 109.1 3.5 61 22.1
2025-09-04 00:00 UT 19 02 12.3 -68 13 02 15.341 15.690 108.5 3.5 62 22.1
2025-09-05 00:00 UT 19 01 55.5 -68 11 04 15.357 15.696 107.8 3.5 62 22.1
2025-09-06 00:00 UT 19 01 39.3 -68 09 06 15.374 15.702 107.2 3.5 63 22.1
2025-09-07 00:00 UT 19 01 23.8 -68 07 06 15.391 15.708 106.5 3.5 64 22.1
2025-09-08 00:00 UT 19 01 09.0 -68 05 04 15.408 15.713 105.9 3.5 65 22.1
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.