C/2022 R6 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today3 Jul 202516.66.575 AU7.375 AU07h40m-10°42'35.7°5.2°161°
Perihelion26 Aug 202516.66.566 AU7.355 AU08h20m-10°09'36.1°5.2°236°
Nearest approach3 Feb 202616.16.654 AU5.754 AU08h42m-08°45'154.0°3.7°13°
C/2022 R6 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-07-03
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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/2022 R6 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0050450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.5655300
            i (Inclination)                 : 57.01960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 150.78510
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 319.91880
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 126.17344
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -32.69160
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460913.73760

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 03
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-MC0

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.04 + 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
2025-07-03 00:00 UT   07 39 49.8   -10 44 30     7.370    6.576   36.0    5.2   159   16.6 
2025-07-03 23:55 UT   07 40 35.5   -10 42 14     7.375    6.575   35.7    5.2   161   16.6 
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   07 40 35.7   -10 42 14     7.375    6.575   35.7    5.2   161   16.6 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   07 41 21.6   -10 40 02     7.379    6.575   35.3    5.1   162   16.6 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   07 42 07.5   -10 37 54     7.383    6.575   34.9    5.1   163   16.6 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   07 42 53.4   -10 35 51     7.386    6.574   34.5    5.0   164   16.6 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   07 43 39.4   -10 33 51     7.390    6.574   34.2    5.0   165   16.6 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   07 44 25.4   -10 31 56     7.393    6.574   33.8    4.9   167   16.6 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   07 45 11.4   -10 30 04     7.397    6.573   33.5    4.9   168   16.6 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   07 45 57.4   -10 28 16     7.400    6.573   33.2    4.9   169   16.6 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   07 46 43.5   -10 26 32     7.403    6.573   32.9    4.8   171   16.6 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   07 47 29.5   -10 24 52     7.406    6.572   32.6    4.8   172   16.6 

































































    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.