C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Oct 2020	19.9	1.944 AU	1.026 AU	23h03m	+05°08'	147.7°	15.9°	84°
Perihelion	21 Dec 2020	20.2	1.768 AU	1.389 AU	00h33m	-07°58'	94.8°	33.7°	65°
Today	1 Jun 2026	33.4	12.508 AU	11.982 AU	12h34m	-05°23'	119.2°	4.1°	112°

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)                : 0.8275760
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7682100
    i (Inclination)                 : 22.34790
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.68680
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.49210
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.64132
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.36387
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459204.83630
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.84

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194170

    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
2026-05-31 00:00 UT   12 34 45.1   -05 25 15    11.951   12.502  120.9    4.0   112   33.4 
2026-06-01 00:00 UT   12 34 39.1   -05 24 12    11.968   12.505  119.9    4.0   112   33.4 
2026-06-01 17:24 UT   12 34 35.0   -05 23 28    11.982   12.508  119.2    4.1   112   33.4 
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   12 34 33.5   -05 23 11    11.987   12.509  118.9    4.1   112   33.4 
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   12 34 28.1   -05 22 12    12.005   12.512  117.9    4.1   112   33.4 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   12 34 22.9   -05 21 14    12.023   12.516  116.9    4.1   112   33.4 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   12 34 18.1   -05 20 18    12.041   12.519  116.0    4.2   112   33.4 
2026-06-06 00:00 UT   12 34 13.6   -05 19 24    12.060   12.523  115.0    4.2   112   33.4 
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   12 34 09.3   -05 18 32    12.079   12.526  114.0    4.2   112   33.4 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   12 34 05.3   -05 17 42    12.097   12.530  113.0    4.3   113   33.4 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   12 34 01.7   -05 16 54    12.116   12.533  112.1    4.3   113   33.4 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   12 33 58.3   -05 16 07    12.135   12.537  111.1    4.3   113   33.4 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   12 33 55.2   -05 15 23    12.155   12.540  110.1    4.4   113   33.4 

    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.