C/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Jun 2020	20.2	4.657 AU	4.087 AU	17h43m	+37°48'	118.5°	11.0°	193°
Nearest approach	18 Jun 2020	20.2	4.659 AU	4.063 AU	17h23m	+36°03'	120.2°	10.9°	173°
Today	14 Jun 2026	28.2	15.228 AU	14.831 AU	11h18m	-71°34'	111.2°	3.6°	100°

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. (10.5 + 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/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9919500
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6572750
    i (Inclination)                 : 99.68870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 68.41370
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 128.75610
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 80.25402
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.23685
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459005.45720
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 13915.67

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194167

    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
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   11 18 19.2   -71 38 58    14.820   15.223  111.5    3.6    99   28.2 
2026-06-14 00:00 UT   11 18 12.6   -71 35 16    14.830   15.228  111.2    3.6   100   28.2 
2026-06-14 01:56 UT   11 18 12.1   -71 34 58    14.831   15.228  111.2    3.6   100   28.2 
2026-06-15 00:00 UT   11 18 06.8   -71 31 35    14.840   15.233  110.9    3.6   101   28.2 
2026-06-16 00:00 UT   11 18 01.8   -71 27 55    14.850   15.238  110.6    3.6   102   28.2 
2026-06-17 00:00 UT   11 17 57.6   -71 24 16    14.860   15.243  110.3    3.6   103   28.2 
2026-06-18 00:00 UT   11 17 54.3   -71 20 38    14.870   15.248  110.0    3.6   104   28.2 
2026-06-19 00:00 UT   11 17 51.6   -71 17 02    14.881   15.253  109.7    3.6   105   28.2 
2026-06-20 00:00 UT   11 17 49.8   -71 13 27    14.891   15.259  109.4    3.6   106   28.2 
2026-06-21 00:00 UT   11 17 48.7   -71 09 53    14.902   15.264  109.0    3.6   107   28.2 
2026-06-22 00:00 UT   11 17 48.4   -71 06 20    14.912   15.269  108.7    3.6   108   28.2 
2026-06-23 00:00 UT   11 17 48.8   -71 02 49    14.923   15.274  108.3    3.6   109   28.2 
2026-06-24 00:00 UT   11 17 49.9   -70 59 20    14.934   15.279  108.0    3.6   110   28.2 

    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.