C/2017 Y2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Nov 2020	16.8	4.628 AU	5.325 AU	17h20m	-01°51'	41.4°	8.1°	68°
Nearest approach	24 May 2021	16.5	4.897 AU	3.893 AU	16h39m	-17°07'	171.4°	1.8°	243°
Today	9 May 2024	23.0	10.335 AU	9.778 AU	10h53m	-46°26'	121.0°	4.8°	83°

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 Y2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0015110
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6282640
            i (Inclination)                 : 128.44880
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.03400
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 147.89580
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 87.34612
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 24.59623
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459158.61540

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-DC6

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (15.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.98 + 5 log[∆] + 13.88 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   10 54 01.8   -46 29 11     9.772   10.332  121.3    4.8    82   23.0 
2024-05-09 10:04 UT   10 53 52.4   -46 26 59     9.778   10.335  121.0    4.8    83   23.0 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   10 53 39.6   -46 23 55     9.785   10.338  120.7    4.8    83   23.0 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   10 53 18.0   -46 18 39     9.799   10.344  120.2    4.8    85   23.0 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   10 52 57.1   -46 13 24     9.812   10.349  119.6    4.9    86   23.0 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   10 52 36.8   -46 08 08     9.826   10.355  119.1    4.9    87   23.0 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   10 52 17.1   -46 02 53     9.840   10.361  118.5    4.9    88   23.0 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   10 51 58.1   -45 57 39     9.854   10.366  117.9    4.9    89   23.0 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   10 51 39.7   -45 52 25     9.868   10.372  117.3    5.0    90   23.1 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   10 51 21.9   -45 47 12     9.883   10.377  116.8    5.0    91   23.1 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   10 51 04.8   -45 41 59     9.897   10.383  116.2    5.0    92   23.1 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   10 50 48.2   -45 36 48     9.912   10.389  115.6    5.0    93   23.1 

    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.