C/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Jun 2020	20.2	4.663 AU	4.092 AU	17h43m	+37°43'	118.6°	11.0°	194°
Nearest approach	18 Jun 2020	20.2	4.665 AU	4.068 AU	17h23m	+35°57'	120.3°	10.8°	173°
Today	5 Jul 2025	27.4	13.432 AU	13.097 AU	12h14m	-68°55'	107.1°	4.1°	109°

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)                : 0.9921020
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6633820
            i (Inclination)                 : 99.70290
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 68.43850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 128.81940
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 80.26948
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.17287
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459005.29180
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 14347.49

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 05
            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
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   12 14 26.6   -68 58 47    13.084   13.427  107.6    4.1   108   27.4 
2025-07-05 23:36 UT   12 14 24.4   -68 55 17    13.097   13.432  107.1    4.1   109   27.4 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   12 14 24.4   -68 55 13    13.097   13.432  107.1    4.1   109   27.4 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   12 14 22.9   -68 51 41    13.110   13.437  106.7    4.2   110   27.4 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   12 14 22.2   -68 48 10    13.123   13.443  106.2    4.2   111   27.4 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   12 14 22.2   -68 44 42    13.136   13.448  105.7    4.2   112   27.4 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   12 14 22.9   -68 41 16    13.150   13.453  105.2    4.2   112   27.4 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   12 14 24.4   -68 37 51    13.163   13.459  104.8    4.2   113   27.4 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   12 14 26.6   -68 34 29    13.177   13.464  104.3    4.2   114   27.4 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   12 14 29.5   -68 31 09    13.190   13.469  103.8    4.2   115   27.4 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   12 14 33.1   -68 27 51    13.204   13.475  103.3    4.2   116   27.4 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   12 14 37.3   -68 24 36    13.218   13.480  102.8    4.2   117   27.4 

    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.