C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Feb 2021	15.5	1.423 AU	1.240 AU	01h46m	+25°50'	78.6°	42.8°	66°
Perihelion	12 Mar 2021	15.3	1.317 AU	1.295 AU	03h58m	+17°00'	68.8°	44.7°	80°
Today	31 Oct 2024	29.9	12.125 AU	12.934 AU	16h19m	-35°47'	34.1°	2.6°	122°

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 N1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0007180
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3169380
            i (Inclination)                 : 29.75560
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 279.86920
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 186.80310
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.78214
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.37040
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459286.38080

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-GA9

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (12.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 13.49 + 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   16 19 01.9   -35 47 37    12.933   12.125   34.1    2.6   122   29.9 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   16 19 03.0   -35 47 37    12.934   12.125   34.1    2.6   122   29.9 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   16 19 25.0   -35 47 38    12.948   12.131   33.3    2.6   123   29.9 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   16 19 48.2   -35 47 41    12.963   12.138   32.5    2.5   123   29.9 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   16 20 11.5   -35 47 44    12.977   12.145   31.7    2.5   124   29.9 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   16 20 35.0   -35 47 49    12.992   12.151   30.8    2.4   125   29.9 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   16 20 58.5   -35 47 55    13.006   12.158   30.0    2.3   126   29.9 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   16 21 22.2   -35 48 02    13.020   12.164   29.2    2.3   127   29.9 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   16 21 46.0   -35 48 10    13.033   12.171   28.4    2.2   127   29.9 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   16 22 09.9   -35 48 19    13.046   12.178   27.6    2.2   128   29.9 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   16 22 33.8   -35 48 29    13.059   12.184   26.8    2.1   129   29.9 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   16 22 57.9   -35 48 40    13.072   12.191   26.1    2.0   130   29.9 

    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.