C/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Jun 2020	20.3	4.671 AU	4.099 AU	17h43m	+37°36'	118.6°	11.0°	194°
Nearest approach	18 Jun 2020	20.2	4.672 AU	4.075 AU	17h23m	+35°50'	120.5°	10.8°	173°
Today	16 Apr 2024	26.0	11.014 AU	10.459 AU	14h22m	-68°37'	121.3°	4.5°	348°

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/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9922100
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6712020
            i (Inclination)                 : 99.70410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 68.44120
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 128.89990
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 80.24057
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.09495
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459005.08480
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 14683.74

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 15
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

            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 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. (10.50 + 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
2024-04-16 00:00 UT   14 23 08.7   -68 37 13    10.460   11.011  121.0    4.5   347   26.0 
2024-04-16 15:58 UT   14 22 22.9   -68 37 53    10.459   11.014  121.3    4.5   348   26.0 
2024-04-17 00:00 UT   14 21 59.8   -68 38 12    10.459   11.016  121.4    4.5   348   26.0 
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   14 20 50.6   -68 39 04    10.459   11.022  121.8    4.4   349   26.0 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   14 19 41.2   -68 39 49    10.458   11.027  122.3    4.4   351   26.0 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   14 18 31.6   -68 40 27    10.458   11.033  122.7    4.4   352   26.0 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   14 17 21.8   -68 40 60    10.458   11.038  123.0    4.4   354   26.0 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   14 16 11.8   -68 41 25    10.458   11.044  123.4    4.4   355   26.0 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   14 15 01.7   -68 41 44    10.458   11.049  123.8    4.3   357   26.0 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   14 13 51.6   -68 41 56    10.459   11.055  124.1    4.3   358   26.0 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   14 12 41.4   -68 42 02    10.460   11.060  124.5    4.3   359   26.0 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   14 11 31.2   -68 42 01    10.461   11.066  124.8    4.3     1   26.0 

    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.