C/2020 Q2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	23 Jan 2020	21.9	5.418 AU	6.398 AU	20h01m	-17°58'	4.7°	0.9°	290°
Nearest approach	5 Aug 2020	21.2	5.510 AU	4.499 AU	21h14m	-13°01'	175.1°	0.9°	218°
Today	21 Jan 2026	25.3	10.647 AU	10.246 AU	03h24m	+15°37'	111.5°	4.9°	74°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (12.0 + 5 log[∆] + 8.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2020 Q2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4885380
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4180770
    i (Inclination)                 : 3.33640
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.84220
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 118.12750
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 118.01013
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 2.94200
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458872.10510
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 34.48

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 20
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-CD7

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   03 24 33.0   +15 36 58    10.217   10.643  113.2    4.9    74   25.3 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   03 24 30.0   +15 37 01    10.235   10.645  112.1    4.9    74   25.3 
2026-01-21 13:49 UT   03 24 28.5   +15 37 03    10.246   10.647  111.5    4.9    74   25.3 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   03 24 27.5   +15 37 05    10.254   10.648  111.1    4.9    74   25.3 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   03 24 25.3   +15 37 11    10.272   10.650  110.1    5.0    74   25.3 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   03 24 23.5   +15 37 18    10.291   10.653  109.1    5.0    75   25.3 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   03 24 22.1   +15 37 27    10.309   10.656  108.0    5.0    75   25.3 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   03 24 21.0   +15 37 38    10.328   10.658  107.0    5.1    75   25.3 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   03 24 20.4   +15 37 50    10.347   10.661  106.0    5.1    75   25.3 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   03 24 20.2   +15 38 03    10.366   10.663  105.0    5.1    75   25.3 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   03 24 20.3   +15 38 18    10.385   10.666  104.0    5.1    75   25.3 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   03 24 20.9   +15 38 34    10.404   10.668  103.0    5.2    75   25.3 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   03 24 21.8   +15 38 52    10.423   10.671  102.0    5.2    75   25.3 

    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.