C/2019 B3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 May 2020	18.1	7.041 AU	6.528 AU	10h53m	-67°18'	116.9°	7.3°	65°
Perihelion	19 Jan 2021	18.1	6.830 AU	7.173 AU	16h30m	-83°25'	65.9°	7.6°	236°
Today	29 Aug 2026	22.6	14.074 AU	13.137 AU	00h00m	-04°31'	157.3°	1.6°	257°

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)                : 0.9977680
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.8297450
    i (Inclination)                 : 66.64300
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 358.39530
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 263.99050
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 73.52469
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -65.92431
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459233.73340
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 169264.33

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 27
    Reference                       : MPC194160

    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
2026-08-28 00:00 UT   00 00 44.5   -04 30 42    13.140   14.067  155.6    1.7   256   22.6 
2026-08-29 00:00 UT   00 00 29.4   -04 31 17    13.138   14.071  156.7    1.6   256   22.6 
2026-08-29 14:30 UT   00 00 20.2   -04 31 38    13.137   14.074  157.3    1.6   257   22.6 
2026-08-30 00:00 UT   00 00 14.2   -04 31 52    13.136   14.076  157.7    1.6   257   22.6 
2026-08-31 00:00 UT   23 59 58.9   -04 32 28    13.135   14.081  158.7    1.5   257   22.6 
2026-09-01 00:00 UT   23 59 43.5   -04 33 04    13.134   14.085  159.7    1.4   258   22.6 
2026-09-02 00:00 UT   23 59 28.0   -04 33 40    13.133   14.090  160.7    1.4   258   22.6 
2026-09-03 00:00 UT   23 59 12.3   -04 34 16    13.133   14.095  161.7    1.3   259   22.6 
2026-09-04 00:00 UT   23 58 56.6   -04 34 53    13.133   14.099  162.7    1.2   260   22.6 
2026-09-05 00:00 UT   23 58 40.8   -04 35 30    13.133   14.104  163.7    1.1   261   22.6 
2026-09-06 00:00 UT   23 58 24.9   -04 36 08    13.133   14.108  164.7    1.1   262   22.6 
2026-09-07 00:00 UT   23 58 08.9   -04 36 45    13.134   14.113  165.7    1.0   263   22.6 
2026-09-08 00:00 UT   23 57 52.9   -04 37 23    13.135   14.118  166.7    0.9   264   22.6 

    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.