C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach4 Feb 202115.51.423 AU1.236 AU01h46m+25°52'78.8°42.8°66°
Perihelion12 Mar 202115.31.317 AU1.292 AU03h58m+16°59'69.0°44.8°80°
Today28 Mar 202428.810.656 AU10.229 AU16h41m-39°21'112.8°5.0°285°
C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS)- 2024-03-28
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
-1 month
-1 week
-1 day
Now
+1 day
+1 week
+1 month

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)                : 1.0006060
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3172010
            i (Inclination)                 : 29.74000
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 279.88970
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 186.78060
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.78395
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.35769
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459286.14530

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 27
            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 13.50 + 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
2024-03-28 00:00 UT   16 41 35.9   -39 21 07    10.234   10.651  112.1    5.0   285   28.8 
2024-03-28 15:41 UT   16 41 29.9   -39 21 42    10.229   10.656  112.8    5.0   285   28.8 
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   16 41 26.6   -39 22 01    10.226   10.658  113.1    4.9   286   28.8 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   16 41 16.8   -39 22 53    10.218   10.665  114.1    4.9   286   28.8 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   16 41 06.6   -39 23 44    10.211   10.672  115.0    4.9   286   28.8 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   16 40 55.9   -39 24 33    10.203   10.679  116.0    4.8   287   28.8 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   16 40 44.7   -39 25 21    10.195   10.686  117.0    4.8   287   28.8 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   16 40 33.0   -39 26 07    10.188   10.693  117.9    4.7   288   28.8 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   16 40 20.9   -39 26 52    10.181   10.700  118.9    4.7   288   28.8 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   16 40 08.4   -39 27 35    10.174   10.707  119.8    4.6   288   28.8 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   16 39 55.3   -39 28 16    10.167   10.714  120.8    4.6   289   28.8 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   16 39 41.9   -39 28 56    10.160   10.721  121.8    4.6   289   28.8 


    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.