P/2020 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	23 Dec 2019	21.7	2.801 AU	3.438 AU	15h13m	-11°04'	43.0°	13.9°	293°
Nearest approach	27 May 2020	20.8	3.004 AU	2.016 AU	17h07m	-10°52'	164.4°	5.2°	226°
Today	23 Apr 2024	27.7	7.335 AU	8.275 AU	01h04m	+00°34'	19.5°	2.6°	231°

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 P/2020 M1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4730590
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.8009130
            i (Inclination)                 : 8.53340
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 142.60230
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 72.60540
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 215.02491
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.14044
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458841.46250
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 12.25

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 22
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-C45

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.740
        

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. (14.50 + 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
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   01 04 03.3   +00 32 33     8.278    7.334   18.9    2.5   230   27.7 
2024-04-23 17:02 UT   01 04 26.6   +00 34 39     8.275    7.335   19.5    2.6   231   27.7 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   01 04 36.1   +00 35 31     8.274    7.336   19.7    2.6   231   27.7 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   01 05 08.8   +00 38 28     8.271    7.337   20.5    2.8   232   27.7 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   01 05 41.4   +00 41 24     8.267    7.339   21.3    2.9   232   27.7 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   01 06 13.9   +00 44 18     8.263    7.340   22.1    3.0   233   27.7 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   01 06 46.3   +00 47 10     8.259    7.342   22.9    3.1   233   27.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   01 07 18.6   +00 50 01     8.254    7.343   23.7    3.2   234   27.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   01 07 50.8   +00 52 51     8.249    7.345   24.5    3.3   235   27.7 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   01 08 22.8   +00 55 39     8.244    7.346   25.3    3.4   235   27.7 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   01 08 54.7   +00 58 26     8.239    7.348   26.1    3.5   235   27.7 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   01 09 26.5   +01 01 10     8.234    7.349   26.9    3.6   236   27.7 

    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.