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	15 Sep 2026	33.8	12.872 AU	13.804 AU	12h48m	-06°14'	21.2°	1.6°	115°

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
2026-09-14 00:00 UT   12 48 02.8   -06 11 49    13.789   12.867   22.6    1.7   115   33.8 
2026-09-15 00:00 UT   12 48 20.1   -06 13 21    13.798   12.870   21.7    1.7   115   33.8 
2026-09-15 15:20 UT   12 48 31.2   -06 14 20    13.804   12.872   21.2    1.6   115   33.8 
2026-09-16 00:00 UT   12 48 37.5   -06 14 54    13.808   12.873   20.8    1.6   115   33.8 
2026-09-17 00:00 UT   12 48 54.9   -06 16 27    13.817   12.877   19.9    1.5   115   33.8 
2026-09-18 00:00 UT   12 49 12.4   -06 18 01    13.826   12.880   19.0    1.5   116   33.8 
2026-09-19 00:00 UT   12 49 29.9   -06 19 35    13.834   12.883   18.2    1.4   116   33.8 
2026-09-20 00:00 UT   12 49 47.5   -06 21 10    13.842   12.887   17.3    1.3   116   33.8 
2026-09-21 00:00 UT   12 50 05.2   -06 22 45    13.850   12.890   16.4    1.3   116   33.8 
2026-09-22 00:00 UT   12 50 22.9   -06 24 21    13.858   12.893   15.5    1.2   116   33.8 
2026-09-23 00:00 UT   12 50 40.7   -06 25 57    13.865   12.897   14.6    1.1   116   33.8 
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   12 50 58.5   -06 27 33    13.873   12.900   13.7    1.1   117   33.8 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   12 51 16.4   -06 29 09    13.880   12.904   12.8    1.0   117   33.8 

    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.