C/2020 H8 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Jun 2020	20.2	4.661 AU	4.090 AU	17h43m	+37°45'	118.5°	11.0°	193°
Nearest approach	18 Jun 2020	20.2	4.662 AU	4.066 AU	17h23m	+36°00'	120.3°	10.8°	173°
Today	20 Nov 2025	27.8	14.161 AU	14.709 AU	13h06m	-68°48'	54.7°	3.3°	227°

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)                : 0.9920480
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.6607560
    i (Inclination)                 : 99.69870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 68.43180
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 128.79280
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 80.26878
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.19939
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459005.37270
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 14189.59

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

    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
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   13 05 49.3   -68 42 21    14.701   14.151   54.6    3.3   225   27.8 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   13 06 12.4   -68 45 43    14.705   14.156   54.6    3.3   226   27.8 
2025-11-20 19:55 UT   13 06 31.3   -68 48 31    14.709   14.161   54.7    3.3   227   27.8 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   13 06 35.2   -68 49 06    14.709   14.162   54.7    3.3   227   27.8 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   13 06 57.6   -68 52 31    14.713   14.167   54.8    3.3   228   27.9 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   13 07 19.6   -68 55 59    14.717   14.172   54.9    3.3   230   27.9 
2025-11-24 00:00 UT   13 07 41.3   -68 59 28    14.721   14.177   55.0    3.3   231   27.9 
2025-11-25 00:00 UT   13 08 02.5   -69 02 60    14.724   14.183   55.1    3.3   232   27.9 
2025-11-26 00:00 UT   13 08 23.4   -69 06 33    14.727   14.188   55.2    3.3   233   27.9 
2025-11-27 00:00 UT   13 08 43.8   -69 10 08    14.731   14.193   55.4    3.3   234   27.9 
2025-11-28 00:00 UT   13 09 03.7   -69 13 45    14.733   14.198   55.5    3.3   235   27.9 
2025-11-29 00:00 UT   13 09 23.3   -69 17 23    14.736   14.204   55.7    3.3   236   27.9 
2025-11-30 00:00 UT   13 09 42.4   -69 21 04    14.739   14.209   55.8    3.3   237   27.9 

    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.