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	21 Dec 2020	20.2	1.764 AU	1.397 AU	00h33m	-07°56'	94.0°	33.8°	66°
Today	22 Aug 2025	33.0	11.453 AU	12.225 AU	12h24m	-05°28'	38.7°	3.2°	117°

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)                : 0.8278950
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7644040
            i (Inclination)                 : 22.37170
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 197.71050
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 202.43090
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 218.60393
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.35062
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459205.48550
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 32.83

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 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
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   12 24 07.3   -05 27 60    12.220   11.451   39.0    3.2   117   33.0 
2025-08-22 07:48 UT   12 24 12.9   -05 28 27    12.225   11.453   38.7    3.2   117   33.0 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   12 24 24.7   -05 29 25    12.234   11.455   38.1    3.1   117   33.0 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   12 24 42.3   -05 30 51    12.248   11.459   37.2    3.1   117   33.0 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   12 24 60.0   -05 32 18    12.262   11.463   36.3    3.0   117   33.0 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   12 25 17.9   -05 33 47    12.275   11.467   35.4    2.9   117   33.0 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   12 25 35.8   -05 35 16    12.289   11.471   34.5    2.9   117   33.0 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   12 25 53.9   -05 36 47    12.302   11.475   33.6    2.8   117   33.0 
2025-08-29 00:00 UT   12 26 12.2   -05 38 18    12.315   11.479   32.8    2.7   117   33.1 
2025-08-30 00:00 UT   12 26 30.5   -05 39 51    12.328   11.483   31.9    2.7   117   33.1 
2025-08-31 00:00 UT   12 26 49.0   -05 41 24    12.340   11.487   31.0    2.6   118   33.1 
2025-09-01 00:00 UT   12 27 07.5   -05 42 58    12.352   11.491   30.1    2.5   118   33.1 

    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.