C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Oct 2020	20.0	1.945 AU	1.030 AU	23h00m	+05°12'	147.1°	16.2°	84°
Perihelion	22 Dec 2020	20.2	1.764 AU	1.398 AU	00h32m	-07°56'	94.0°	33.8°	66°
Today	18 Jul 2025	32.9	11.316 AU	11.632 AU	12h16m	-04°53'	69.5°	4.8°	114°

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 S2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8279240
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7639770
            i (Inclination)                 : 22.37410
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.70970
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.42620
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.59836
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.34980
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459205.52510
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.82

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 17
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ST7

            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. (17.00 + 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
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   12 15 52.3   -04 53 01    11.614   11.312   70.3    4.9   114   32.9 
2025-07-18 22:49 UT   12 16 02.2   -04 53 31    11.632   11.316   69.5    4.8   114   32.9 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   12 16 02.7   -04 53 33    11.633   11.316   69.4    4.8   114   32.9 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   12 16 13.3   -04 54 07    11.653   11.320   68.5    4.8   115   32.9 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   12 16 24.2   -04 54 42    11.672   11.324   67.6    4.8   115   32.9 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   12 16 35.4   -04 55 20    11.692   11.328   66.7    4.7   115   32.9 
2025-07-23 00:00 UT   12 16 46.8   -04 55 59    11.711   11.332   65.8    4.7   115   32.9 
2025-07-24 00:00 UT   12 16 58.4   -04 56 41    11.730   11.336   64.9    4.7   115   32.9 
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   12 17 10.3   -04 57 24    11.749   11.340   64.0    4.6   115   32.9 
2025-07-26 00:00 UT   12 17 22.4   -04 58 08    11.768   11.344   63.1    4.6   115   32.9 
2025-07-27 00:00 UT   12 17 34.8   -04 58 55    11.787   11.348   62.2    4.5   115   32.9 
2025-07-28 00:00 UT   12 17 47.3   -04 59 43    11.805   11.352   61.3    4.5   115   32.9 

    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.