C/2020 T4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	30 Nov 2020	19.0	3.269 AU	2.361 AU	02h30m	+28°22'	152.8°	7.9°	97°
Perihelion	6 Jul 2021	17.8	2.186 AU	2.582 AU	07h23m	+78°45'	56.1°	22.7°	6°
Today	6 Oct 2026	28.4	15.116 AU	15.749 AU	14h28m	-49°41'	49.2°	2.9°	146°

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. (13.0 + 5 log[∆] + 8.0 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 T4 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0008520
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1857600
    i (Inclination)                 : 83.77950
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 50.57550
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 79.56750
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 81.05231
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 77.87141
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459402.00000

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194170

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   14 27 35.6   -49 40 31    15.723   15.106   50.4    2.9   145   28.4 
2026-10-06 00:00 UT   14 27 54.6   -49 40 59    15.738   15.112   49.7    2.9   146   28.4 
2026-10-06 18:01 UT   14 28 09.0   -49 41 21    15.749   15.116   49.2    2.9   146   28.4 
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   14 28 13.8   -49 41 29    15.753   15.117   49.1    2.9   147   28.4 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   14 28 33.1   -49 42 01    15.767   15.123   48.4    2.8   147   28.4 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   14 28 52.6   -49 42 35    15.782   15.129   47.8    2.8   148   28.4 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   14 29 12.1   -49 43 12    15.796   15.135   47.2    2.8   149   28.4 
2026-10-11 00:00 UT   14 29 31.9   -49 43 51    15.810   15.141   46.5    2.7   150   28.4 
2026-10-12 00:00 UT   14 29 51.7   -49 44 31    15.823   15.146   45.9    2.7   151   28.4 
2026-10-13 00:00 UT   14 30 11.6   -49 45 15    15.837   15.152   45.3    2.7   152   28.4 
2026-10-14 00:00 UT   14 30 31.7   -49 45 60    15.850   15.158   44.7    2.7   153   28.4 
2026-10-15 00:00 UT   14 30 51.9   -49 46 47    15.863   15.164   44.1    2.6   154   28.4 
2026-10-16 00:00 UT   14 31 12.1   -49 47 36    15.876   15.169   43.6    2.6   155   28.5 

    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.