C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Feb 2021	15.5	1.426 AU	1.245 AU	01h46m	+25°53'	78.5°	42.7°	66°
Perihelion	13 Mar 2021	15.2	1.318 AU	1.302 AU	03h58m	+17°01'	68.6°	44.6°	80°
Today	2 Oct 2025	30.9	14.271 AU	14.710 AU	16h28m	-35°15'	62.1°	3.6°	106°

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)                : 1.0009140
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3179480
            i (Inclination)                 : 29.76870
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 279.85370
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 186.84770
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.80473
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.39378
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459286.74420

            Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 01
            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 13.48 + 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
2025-10-02 00:00 UT   16 27 54.2   -35 16 24    14.692   14.265   63.0    3.6   106   30.9 
2025-10-02 21:23 UT   16 28 05.5   -35 15 52    14.710   14.271   62.1    3.6   106   30.9 
2025-10-03 00:00 UT   16 28 06.9   -35 15 49    14.712   14.271   62.0    3.6   106   30.9 
2025-10-04 00:00 UT   16 28 19.9   -35 15 14    14.733   14.277   61.1    3.5   107   30.9 
2025-10-05 00:00 UT   16 28 33.1   -35 14 41    14.753   14.284   60.2    3.5   107   30.9 
2025-10-06 00:00 UT   16 28 46.5   -35 14 09    14.774   14.290   59.3    3.4   107   30.9 
2025-10-07 00:00 UT   16 29 00.2   -35 13 37    14.794   14.296   58.4    3.4   107   30.9 
2025-10-08 00:00 UT   16 29 14.1   -35 13 07    14.814   14.302   57.5    3.4   108   30.9 
2025-10-09 00:00 UT   16 29 28.2   -35 12 38    14.833   14.308   56.6    3.3   108   30.9 
2025-10-10 00:00 UT   16 29 42.6   -35 12 10    14.853   14.314   55.7    3.3   108   30.9 
2025-10-11 00:00 UT   16 29 57.2   -35 11 43    14.872   14.320   54.8    3.3   109   30.9 
2025-10-12 00:00 UT   16 30 12.0   -35 11 16    14.892   14.327   53.9    3.2   109   30.9 

    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.