C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS) - DISINTEGRATED
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach6 May 201914.53.941 AU3.254 AU11h55m-58°52'126.8°11.8°56°
Perihelion1 Dec 201913.83.448 AU3.793 AU14h07m-82°39'62.3°14.7°217°
Disintegration12 Sep 202015.64.312 AU3.721 AU03h01m-37°22'119.9°11.7°289°
Today2 Dec 2024-13.803 AU13.111 AU01h06m+33°14'133.0°3.0°90°
C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-12-02
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 F4 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9982370
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4480480
            i (Inclination)                 : 78.11040
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 26.52580
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 263.20340
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 86.47720
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -76.32920
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458818.76880
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 86493.10

            Epoch                           : 2024 Nov 30
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-A50

            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 (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 15.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently .79 + 5 log[∆] + 18.78 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.