C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS) - DISINTEGRATED |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 6 May 2019 | 14.5 | 3.941 AU | 3.254 AU | 11h55m | -58°50' | 126.8° | 11.8° | 56° |
Perihelion | 1 Dec 2019 | 13.8 | 3.448 AU | 3.793 AU | 14h07m | -82°40' | 62.3° | 14.7° | 217° |
Disintegration | 12 Sep 2020 | 15.6 | 4.311 AU | 3.721 AU | 03h01m | -37°23' | 119.9° | 11.7° | 289° |
Today | 31 Oct 2024 | - | 13.620 AU | 12.713 AU | 01h15m | +34°06' | 155.1° | 1.8° | 139° |
C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-10-31
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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) : 0.9982830
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.4478110
i (Inclination) : 78.10720
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 26.52440
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 263.20370
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 86.48350
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -76.32658
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458818.86160
P (Orbital period in years) : 89982.85
Epoch : 2024 Oct 29
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 .80 + 5 log[∆] + 18.77 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT 01 15 49.5 +34 06 19 12.712 13.620 155.1 1.8 139 27.6
2024-10-31 01:08 UT 01 15 48.6 +34 06 15 12.713 13.620 155.1 1.8 139 27.6
2024-11-01 00:00 UT 01 15 28.9 +34 05 00 12.720 13.625 154.8 1.8 137 27.6
2024-11-02 00:00 UT 01 15 08.5 +34 03 39 12.729 13.631 154.4 1.8 135 27.6
2024-11-03 00:00 UT 01 14 48.2 +34 02 17 12.737 13.637 154.0 1.8 132 27.6
2024-11-04 00:00 UT 01 14 28.1 +34 00 54 12.746 13.642 153.6 1.9 130 27.6
2024-11-05 00:00 UT 01 14 08.1 +33 59 28 12.755 13.648 153.2 1.9 128 27.6
2024-11-06 00:00 UT 01 13 48.4 +33 58 02 12.765 13.654 152.7 1.9 126 27.6
2024-11-07 00:00 UT 01 13 28.8 +33 56 34 12.775 13.659 152.2 1.9 124 27.6
2024-11-08 00:00 UT 01 13 09.4 +33 55 04 12.785 13.665 151.6 2.0 122 27.6
2024-11-09 00:00 UT 01 12 50.2 +33 53 34 12.795 13.671 151.1 2.0 120 27.7
2024-11-10 00:00 UT 01 12 31.2 +33 52 02 12.806 13.676 150.5 2.0 118 27.7
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.