C/2018 A4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 Nov 2017	20.3	2.996 AU	2.065 AU	01h53m	+07°20'	156.2°	7.7°	60°
Perihelion	20 May 2018	20.4	2.387 AU	3.271 AU	05h31m	+23°06'	24.5°	10.1°	87°
Today	1 Apr 2025	31.3	14.392 AU	13.806 AU	16h23m	-19°46'	124.3°	3.3°	278°

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/2018 A4 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8041630
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3868650
            i (Inclination)                 : 3.15180
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 97.56170
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 355.95760
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 93.52539
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.22207
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458258.73910
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 42.55

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-J29

            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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (14.00 + 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
2025-04-01 00:00 UT   16 24 02.8   -19 46 36    13.812   14.390  123.7    3.3   278   31.3 
2025-04-01 14:23 UT   16 23 58.4   -19 46 23    13.806   14.392  124.3    3.3   278   31.3 
2025-04-02 00:00 UT   16 23 55.4   -19 46 14    13.801   14.394  124.7    3.3   278   31.3 
2025-04-03 00:00 UT   16 23 47.7   -19 45 52    13.791   14.397  125.7    3.2   278   31.3 
2025-04-04 00:00 UT   16 23 39.8   -19 45 28    13.780   14.400  126.7    3.2   278   31.3 
2025-04-05 00:00 UT   16 23 31.6   -19 45 04    13.769   14.403  127.7    3.1   278   31.3 
2025-04-06 00:00 UT   16 23 23.1   -19 44 40    13.759   14.407  128.7    3.1   278   31.3 
2025-04-07 00:00 UT   16 23 14.4   -19 44 15    13.749   14.410  129.8    3.1   278   31.3 
2025-04-08 00:00 UT   16 23 05.4   -19 43 50    13.739   14.413  130.8    3.0   278   31.3 
2025-04-09 00:00 UT   16 22 56.2   -19 43 24    13.729   14.416  131.8    3.0   278   31.3 
2025-04-10 00:00 UT   16 22 46.8   -19 42 57    13.720   14.420  132.8    2.9   278   31.3 
2025-04-11 00:00 UT   16 22 37.1   -19 42 30    13.711   14.423  133.8    2.9   278   31.3 

    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.