C/2022 L4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	9 Dec 2021	21.7	3.007 AU	3.752 AU	18h50m	+01°22'	35.6°	11.0°	46°
Nearest approach	29 May 2022	21.3	3.440 AU	2.456 AU	17h19m	-11°38'	163.5°	4.8°	231°
Today	16 Feb 2026	30.2	12.215 AU	11.604 AU	11h24m	-37°11'	126.3°	3.7°	333°

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. (14.0 + 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/2022 L4 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9892210
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0066620
    i (Inclination)                 : 141.24120
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.05330
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 125.21610
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 113.90276
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 30.76157
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459557.60050
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 4658.64

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-N37

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   11 25 12.6   -37 11 58    11.609   12.208  125.4    3.8   332   30.2 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   11 24 45.6   -37 11 43    11.605   12.214  126.1    3.7   333   30.2 
2026-02-16 05:11 UT   11 24 39.8   -37 11 39    11.604   12.215  126.3    3.7   333   30.2 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   11 24 18.5   -37 11 24    11.601   12.220  126.9    3.7   334   30.2 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   11 23 51.2   -37 11 00    11.598   12.226  127.6    3.7   335   30.2 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   11 23 23.7   -37 10 33    11.595   12.232  128.2    3.6   336   30.2 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   11 22 56.0   -37 10 01    11.592   12.238  128.9    3.6   337   30.2 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   11 22 28.3   -37 09 24    11.589   12.244  129.6    3.6   339   30.2 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   11 22 00.4   -37 08 44    11.587   12.250  130.3    3.5   340   30.2 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   11 21 32.4   -37 07 59    11.585   12.256  130.9    3.5   341   30.2 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   11 21 04.2   -37 07 10    11.582   12.262  131.5    3.5   342   30.2 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   11 20 36.0   -37 06 16    11.581   12.268  132.2    3.4   343   30.2 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   11 20 07.7   -37 05 19    11.579   12.274  132.8    3.4   345   30.2 

    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.