C/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Dec 2018	20.0	2.704 AU	1.726 AU	04h45m	+14°32'	171.0°	3.3°	24°
Perihelion	1 Jan 2019	20.1	2.695 AU	1.820 AU	04h20m	+21°21'	146.4°	11.7°	80°
Today	22 Jun 2025	31.4	13.718 AU	12.999 AU	15h34m	+05°29'	133.5°	3.1°	130°

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 X3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7829000
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6947780
            i (Inclination)                 : 43.42560
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.79690
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.86900
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.70176
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.09005
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458485.14690
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 43.73

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 21
            Reference                       : MPC114604

            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. (14.50 + 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
2025-06-22 00:00 UT   15 34 08.7   +05 29 18    12.995   13.717  133.7    3.1   130   31.4 
2025-06-22 07:17 UT   15 34 04.9   +05 29 02    12.999   13.718  133.5    3.1   130   31.4 
2025-06-23 00:00 UT   15 33 56.3   +05 28 25    13.008   13.721  132.9    3.1   129   31.4 
2025-06-24 00:00 UT   15 33 44.1   +05 27 30    13.022   13.724  132.1    3.2   129   31.4 
2025-06-25 00:00 UT   15 33 32.1   +05 26 32    13.036   13.728  131.3    3.2   128   31.5 
2025-06-26 00:00 UT   15 33 20.3   +05 25 33    13.050   13.731  130.4    3.2   127   31.5 
2025-06-27 00:00 UT   15 33 08.8   +05 24 32    13.064   13.734  129.6    3.3   126   31.5 
2025-06-28 00:00 UT   15 32 57.4   +05 23 29    13.078   13.738  128.7    3.3   126   31.5 
2025-06-29 00:00 UT   15 32 46.3   +05 22 24    13.093   13.741  127.9    3.3   125   31.5 
2025-06-30 00:00 UT   15 32 35.4   +05 21 17    13.108   13.745  127.0    3.4   124   31.5 
2025-07-01 00:00 UT   15 32 24.7   +05 20 09    13.123   13.748  126.2    3.4   124   31.5 
2025-07-02 00:00 UT   15 32 14.3   +05 18 58    13.138   13.751  125.3    3.5   123   31.5 

    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.