C/2017 X1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Mar 2018	19.3	4.715 AU	3.906 AU	09h42m	-27°54'	140.6°	7.7°	35°
Perihelion	13 Jun 2018	19.6	4.659 AU	4.710 AU	10h06m	-20°41'	80.9°	12.4°	119°
Today	24 Apr 2024	26.6	13.697 AU	13.421 AU	19h15m	-02°37'	103.9°	4.1°	257°

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 X1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8494650
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6588200
            i (Inclination)                 : 31.34930
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 251.17220
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 283.05990
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 176.36844
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -30.45074
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458283.33520
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 172.17

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-R75

            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 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 (10.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.60 + 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
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   19 15 43.3   -02 39 23    13.430   13.693  103.1    4.1   257   26.6 
2024-04-24 20:47 UT   19 15 41.6   -02 37 52    13.421   13.697  103.9    4.1   257   26.6 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   19 15 41.4   -02 37 38    13.419   13.697  104.0    4.1   257   26.6 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   19 15 39.1   -02 35 54    13.408   13.702  104.9    4.1   257   26.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   19 15 36.6   -02 34 11    13.397   13.706  105.8    4.1   256   26.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   19 15 33.9   -02 32 29    13.387   13.711  106.7    4.0   256   26.6 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   19 15 30.8   -02 30 47    13.376   13.715  107.6    4.0   256   26.6 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   19 15 27.4   -02 29 07    13.365   13.720  108.6    4.0   255   26.6 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   19 15 23.8   -02 27 27    13.355   13.724  109.5    4.0   255   26.6 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   19 15 19.9   -02 25 49    13.345   13.729  110.4    3.9   255   26.6 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   19 15 15.7   -02 24 11    13.334   13.733  111.3    3.9   254   26.6 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   19 15 11.2   -02 22 34    13.324   13.738  112.2    3.9   254   26.6 

    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.