C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Oct 2020	20.0	1.945 AU	1.029 AU	23h01m	+05°11'	147.2°	16.1°	84°
Perihelion	21 Dec 2020	20.2	1.765 AU	1.395 AU	00h33m	-07°56'	94.2°	33.8°	66°
Today	3 Nov 2025	33.2	11.735 AU	12.613 AU	12h47m	-07°35'	26.6°	2.2°	288°

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. (17.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 S2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8278160
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7654320
    i (Inclination)                 : 22.36550
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.71250
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.44050
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.61585
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.35182
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459205.34950
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.83

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 02
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-ST7

    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
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   12 47 27.7   -07 33 35    12.617   11.731   25.7    2.1   288   33.2 
2025-11-03 00:00 UT   12 47 45.9   -07 35 17    12.613   11.735   26.6    2.2   288   33.2 
2025-11-03 00:28 UT   12 47 46.3   -07 35 19    12.613   11.735   26.6    2.2   288   33.2 
2025-11-04 00:00 UT   12 48 04.0   -07 36 60    12.609   11.739   27.5    2.2   289   33.2 
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   12 48 22.1   -07 38 41    12.604   11.742   28.5    2.3   289   33.2 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   12 48 39.9   -07 40 22    12.600   11.746   29.4    2.4   289   33.2 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   12 48 57.7   -07 42 02    12.595   11.750   30.3    2.4   289   33.2 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   12 49 15.3   -07 43 41    12.590   11.754   31.2    2.5   289   33.2 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   12 49 32.7   -07 45 19    12.584   11.758   32.1    2.6   289   33.2 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   12 49 50.0   -07 46 57    12.579   11.762   33.1    2.6   289   33.2 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   12 50 07.2   -07 48 33    12.573   11.765   34.0    2.7   290   33.2 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   12 50 24.2   -07 50 09    12.567   11.769   34.9    2.8   290   33.2 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   12 50 41.0   -07 51 44    12.561   11.773   35.8    2.8   290   33.2 

    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.