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°53'	126.8°	11.8°	56°
Perihelion	1 Dec 2019	13.8	3.448 AU	3.793 AU	14h06m	-82°38'	62.3°	14.7°	217°
Disintegration	12 Sep 2020	15.6	4.312 AU	3.722 AU	03h01m	-37°22'	119.9°	11.7°	289°
Today	26 Dec 2024	-	13.941 AU	13.567 AU	01h03m	+32°35'	110.4°	3.8°	75°

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)                : 0.9982000
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4482100
            i (Inclination)                 : 78.11370
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 26.52730
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 263.20280
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 86.46970
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -76.33176
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458818.69630
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 83845.89

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 25
            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[∆] + 18.79 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
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   01 03 04.7   +32 36 58    13.550   13.937  111.2    3.8    75   27.9 
2024-12-26 19:47 UT   01 03 00.9   +32 35 49    13.567   13.941  110.4    3.8    75   27.9 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   01 03 00.1   +32 35 34    13.571   13.942  110.3    3.8    75   27.9 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   01 02 55.9   +32 34 12    13.591   13.948  109.3    3.8    74   28.0 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   01 02 52.1   +32 32 52    13.612   13.954  108.4    3.8    74   28.0 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   01 02 48.6   +32 31 33    13.633   13.959  107.4    3.9    73   28.0 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   01 02 45.4   +32 30 15    13.653   13.965  106.5    3.9    73   28.0 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   01 02 42.6   +32 28 59    13.674   13.971  105.6    3.9    72   28.0 
2025-01-02 00:00 UT   01 02 40.1   +32 27 44    13.695   13.976  104.6    3.9    72   28.0 
2025-01-03 00:00 UT   01 02 38.0   +32 26 32    13.716   13.982  103.7    3.9    71   28.0 
2025-01-04 00:00 UT   01 02 36.2   +32 25 20    13.737   13.987  102.7    3.9    71   28.0 
2025-01-05 00:00 UT   01 02 34.8   +32 24 11    13.759   13.993  101.8    3.9    71   28.0 

    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.