C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Oct 2020	20.0	1.945 AU	1.031 AU	22h59m	+05°12'	146.9°	16.3°	84°
Perihelion	22 Dec 2020	20.2	1.763 AU	1.399 AU	00h32m	-07°56'	93.9°	33.8°	66°
Today	25 Apr 2025	32.4	10.973 AU	10.080 AU	12h19m	-06°08'	151.3°	2.5°	107°

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)                : 0.8279840
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7631180
            i (Inclination)                 : 22.37890
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.70780
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.41720
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.58730
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.34831
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459205.61390
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.81

            Epoch                           : 2025 Apr 24
            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
2025-04-25 00:00 UT   12 19 17.2   -06 09 43    10.072   10.970  151.9    2.5   106   32.4 
2025-04-25 15:01 UT   12 19 08.0   -06 08 22    10.080   10.973  151.3    2.5   107   32.4 
2025-04-26 00:00 UT   12 19 02.5   -06 07 33    10.084   10.975  150.9    2.6   107   32.4 
2025-04-27 00:00 UT   12 18 47.9   -06 05 23    10.096   10.979  149.9    2.6   107   32.4 
2025-04-28 00:00 UT   12 18 33.7   -06 03 15    10.109   10.983  148.8    2.7   107   32.4 
2025-04-29 00:00 UT   12 18 19.6   -06 01 08    10.121   10.987  147.8    2.8   107   32.4 
2025-04-30 00:00 UT   12 18 05.8   -05 59 02    10.134   10.991  146.8    2.9   108   32.4 
2025-05-01 00:00 UT   12 17 52.2   -05 56 58    10.148   10.995  145.8    3.0   108   32.4 
2025-05-02 00:00 UT   12 17 38.9   -05 54 55    10.161   10.999  144.7    3.0   108   32.4 
2025-05-03 00:00 UT   12 17 25.9   -05 52 53    10.175   11.004  143.7    3.1   108   32.5 
2025-05-04 00:00 UT   12 17 13.1   -05 50 52    10.189   11.008  142.7    3.2   109   32.5 
2025-05-05 00:00 UT   12 17 00.5   -05 48 54    10.203   11.012  141.7    3.3   109   32.5 

    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.