C/2020 Q2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	24 Jan 2020	21.9	5.419 AU	6.398 AU	20h02m	-17°55'	5.6°	1.0°	285°
Nearest approach	5 Aug 2020	21.2	5.510 AU	4.499 AU	21h14m	-13°02'	175.1°	0.9°	218°
Today	15 Jul 2025	25.2	10.148 AU	10.685 AU	03h43m	+17°08'	55.8°	4.8°	255°

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 Q2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4888120
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4194890
            i (Inclination)                 : 3.33580
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.82750
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 118.20400
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 118.07199
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 2.93937
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458873.25160
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 34.52

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 14
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-CD7

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)
        

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. (12.00 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 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
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   03 43 07.0   +17 07 51    10.694   10.146   55.0    4.7   255   25.2 
2025-07-15 21:00 UT   03 43 23.5   +17 08 32    10.685   10.148   55.8    4.8   255   25.2 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   03 43 25.8   +17 08 38    10.683   10.148   55.9    4.8   255   25.2 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   03 43 44.3   +17 09 23    10.672   10.151   56.8    4.8   255   25.2 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   03 44 02.6   +17 10 07    10.661   10.154   57.6    4.9   256   25.2 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   03 44 20.6   +17 10 50    10.650   10.157   58.5    4.9   256   25.2 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   03 44 38.3   +17 11 32    10.638   10.159   59.4    4.9   256   25.2 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   03 44 55.7   +17 12 13    10.627   10.162   60.3    5.0   256   25.2 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   03 45 12.8   +17 12 52    10.615   10.165   61.2    5.0   256   25.2 
2025-07-23 00:00 UT   03 45 29.7   +17 13 30    10.603   10.167   62.1    5.1   256   25.2 
2025-07-24 00:00 UT   03 45 46.2   +17 14 07    10.591   10.170   63.0    5.1   256   25.2 
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   03 46 02.4   +17 14 43    10.579   10.173   63.8    5.1   256   25.2 

    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.