C/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Dec 2018	20.0	2.701 AU	1.723 AU	04h45m	+14°33'	171.0°	3.3°	23°
Perihelion	1 Jan 2019	20.1	2.692 AU	1.816 AU	04h21m	+21°18'	146.7°	11.6°	80°
Today	31 Oct 2024	31.3	12.887 AU	13.777 AU	15h31m	+04°22'	25.3°	1.9°	43°

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)                : 0.7829350
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6919120
            i (Inclination)                 : 43.42660
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.79610
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.82570
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.66951
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.11982
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458484.91400
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 43.67

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   15 31 19.1   +04 22 34    13.777   12.887   25.3    1.9    43   31.3 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   15 31 19.9   +04 22 28    13.777   12.887   25.3    1.9    43   31.3 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   15 31 37.1   +04 20 37    13.783   12.890   24.9    1.9    41   31.3 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   15 31 55.3   +04 18 42    13.789   12.894   24.6    1.8    39   31.3 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   15 32 13.5   +04 16 49    13.795   12.898   24.2    1.8    37   31.3 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   15 32 31.7   +04 14 56    13.801   12.901   23.9    1.8    35   31.3 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   15 32 50.0   +04 13 06    13.807   12.905   23.6    1.8    33   31.3 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   15 33 08.4   +04 11 17    13.812   12.909   23.4    1.7    30   31.3 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   15 33 26.7   +04 09 30    13.817   12.912   23.2    1.7    28   31.3 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   15 33 45.2   +04 07 44    13.822   12.916   23.0    1.7    26   31.3 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   15 34 03.7   +04 06 00    13.826   12.920   22.8    1.7    23   31.3 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   15 34 22.2   +04 04 18    13.831   12.923   22.7    1.7    21   31.3 

    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.