C/2019 B3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 May 2020	18.1	7.042 AU	6.529 AU	10h53m	-67°18'	116.9°	7.3°	65°
Perihelion	19 Jan 2021	18.1	6.831 AU	7.174 AU	16h31m	-83°25'	65.8°	7.6°	236°
Today	5 Mar 2026	22.5	13.251 AU	14.219 AU	23h50m	-08°12'	12.1°	0.9°	99°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (5.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2019 B3 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9977980
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.8305360
    i (Inclination)                 : 66.62960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 358.39690
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 263.99730
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 73.55017
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -65.91295
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459233.76810
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 172765.18

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 04
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-JU4

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   23 50 13.4   -08 16 47    14.207   13.244   13.2    1.0    96   22.5 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   23 50 28.5   -08 13 53    14.216   13.249   12.4    0.9    98   22.5 
2026-03-05 09:29 UT   23 50 34.5   -08 12 45    14.219   13.251   12.1    0.9    99   22.5 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   23 50 43.7   -08 11 00    14.224   13.254   11.6    0.9   101   22.5 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   23 50 58.9   -08 08 07    14.231   13.258   10.8    0.8   103   22.5 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   23 51 14.1   -08 05 15    14.239   13.263   10.1    0.8   107   22.5 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   23 51 29.4   -08 02 23    14.246   13.268    9.4    0.7   110   22.5 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   23 51 44.7   -07 59 31    14.252   13.272    8.8    0.7   114   22.5 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   23 52 00.1   -07 56 39    14.259   13.277    8.2    0.6   119   22.5 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   23 52 15.4   -07 53 48    14.265   13.282    7.6    0.6   124   22.5 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   23 52 30.8   -07 50 58    14.271   13.286    7.2    0.5   131   22.5 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   23 52 46.2   -07 48 08    14.277   13.291    6.8    0.5   138   22.5 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   23 53 01.5   -07 45 18    14.282   13.295    6.5    0.5   145   22.5 

    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.