C/2018 A4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach14 Nov 201720.32.996 AU2.065 AU01h53m+07°20'156.2°7.7°60°
Perihelion20 May 201820.42.387 AU3.271 AU05h31m+23°06'24.5°10.1°87°
Today29 Mar 202430.713.118 AU12.517 AU16h08m-18°56'125.2°3.6°279°
C/2018 A4 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-03-29
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.244
        

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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   16 08 44.7   -18 56 24    12.522   13.116  124.6    3.6   279   30.7 
2024-03-29 12:57 UT   16 08 40.3   -18 56 09    12.517   13.118  125.2    3.6   279   30.7 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   16 08 36.5   -18 55 57    12.512   13.120  125.7    3.5   279   30.7 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   16 08 28.1   -18 55 28    12.502   13.123  126.7    3.5   279   30.7 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   16 08 19.4   -18 54 58    12.492   13.127  127.7    3.5   279   30.7 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   16 08 10.4   -18 54 28    12.482   13.131  128.7    3.4   279   30.7 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   16 08 01.1   -18 53 58    12.472   13.134  129.7    3.4   279   30.7 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   16 07 51.6   -18 53 26    12.463   13.138  130.8    3.3   279   30.7 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   16 07 41.8   -18 52 54    12.453   13.142  131.8    3.3   279   30.7 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   16 07 31.7   -18 52 21    12.444   13.145  132.8    3.2   279   30.7 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   16 07 21.3   -18 51 48    12.435   13.149  133.8    3.1   279   30.7 
2024-04-08 00:00 UT   16 07 10.7   -18 51 14    12.427   13.153  134.9    3.1   279   30.7 


    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.