C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Oct 2020	20.0	1.945 AU	1.032 AU	22h58m	+05°13'	146.8°	16.3°	84°
Perihelion	22 Dec 2020	20.2	1.762 AU	1.400 AU	00h32m	-07°56'	93.6°	33.9°	66°
Today	22 Dec 2024	32.3	10.445 AU	10.607 AU	12h40m	-08°50'	77.9°	5.3°	292°

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)                : 0.8280930
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7615020
            i (Inclination)                 : 22.38810
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.70350
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.39970
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.56521
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.34536
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459205.77010
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.80

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 21
            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
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   12 40 48.5   -08 49 59    10.612   10.443   77.5    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-22 10:14 UT   12 40 51.5   -08 50 19    10.607   10.445   77.9    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   12 40 55.6   -08 50 46    10.600   10.448   78.5    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   12 41 02.3   -08 51 30    10.587   10.452   79.4    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   12 41 08.7   -08 52 13    10.574   10.456   80.4    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   12 41 14.8   -08 52 54    10.562   10.461   81.4    5.3   292   32.3 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   12 41 20.5   -08 53 32    10.549   10.465   82.4    5.3   293   32.3 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   12 41 25.8   -08 54 09    10.536   10.469   83.4    5.4   293   32.3 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   12 41 30.8   -08 54 43    10.524   10.474   84.4    5.4   293   32.3 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   12 41 35.4   -08 55 14    10.511   10.478   85.4    5.4   293   32.3 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   12 41 39.6   -08 55 44    10.498   10.482   86.4    5.4   293   32.3 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   12 41 43.5   -08 56 11    10.485   10.487   87.4    5.4   293   32.3 

    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.