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	23 Oct 2025	30.1	11.519 AU	12.295 AU	11h38m	-32°50'	37.2°	3.0°	243°

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)                : 0.9892400
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0069550
    i (Inclination)                 : 141.24170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.05510
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 125.22170
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 113.89884
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 30.75885
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459557.60180
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 4671.67

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 22
    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
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   11 38 32.4   -32 46 28    12.294   11.509   36.5    2.9   241   30.1 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   11 38 44.3   -32 49 16    12.295   11.516   36.9    3.0   242   30.1 
2025-10-23 13:09 UT   11 38 50.8   -32 50 49    12.295   11.519   37.2    3.0   243   30.1 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   11 38 56.1   -32 52 05    12.296   11.522   37.4    3.0   243   30.1 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   11 39 07.7   -32 54 56    12.296   11.528   37.9    3.0   245   30.1 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   11 39 19.0   -32 57 48    12.296   11.534   38.4    3.1   246   30.1 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   11 39 30.2   -33 00 42    12.296   11.540   38.9    3.1   247   30.1 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   11 39 41.1   -33 03 36    12.296   11.546   39.4    3.1   248   30.1 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   11 39 51.8   -33 06 31    12.295   11.552   40.0    3.2   250   30.1 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   11 40 02.2   -33 09 28    12.295   11.558   40.5    3.2   251   30.1 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   11 40 12.4   -33 12 26    12.294   11.564   41.1    3.2   252   30.1 
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   11 40 22.4   -33 15 24    12.293   11.570   41.7    3.3   253   30.1 
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   11 40 32.2   -33 18 24    12.291   11.576   42.2    3.3   254   30.1 

    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.