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° |
C/2020 S2 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-07-18
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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.