C/2022 S3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	21 Jan 2023	16.7	0.840 AU	1.234 AU	22h08m	-56°51'	42.6°	52.6°	138°
Nearest approach	8 Mar 2023	16.6	1.182 AU	0.598 AU	05h42m	-37°44'	92.7°	57.0°	81°
Today	24 Mar 2026	32.7	11.363 AU	10.826 AU	13h53m	+54°28'	120.3°	4.3°	209°

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. (17.0 + 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 S3 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0003590
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8397460
    i (Inclination)                 : 78.44980
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 157.20480
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 268.01340
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 237.37660
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -78.28249
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459965.95020

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   13 54 40.2   +54 21 50    10.810   11.349  120.6    4.3   212   32.7 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   13 54 12.6   +54 25 07    10.818   11.356  120.5    4.3   210   32.7 
2026-03-24 22:45 UT   13 53 46.0   +54 28 08    10.826   11.363  120.3    4.3   209   32.7 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   13 53 44.6   +54 28 18    10.827   11.363  120.3    4.3   209   32.7 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   13 53 16.3   +54 31 25    10.836   11.370  120.2    4.3   208   32.7 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   13 52 47.7   +54 34 26    10.845   11.377  120.0    4.4   206   32.7 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   13 52 18.9   +54 37 22    10.854   11.384  119.9    4.4   205   32.7 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   13 51 49.8   +54 40 13    10.863   11.391  119.7    4.4   204   32.7 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   13 51 20.5   +54 42 59    10.872   11.398  119.5    4.4   203   32.7 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   13 50 50.9   +54 45 40    10.882   11.405  119.3    4.4   201   32.8 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   13 50 21.1   +54 48 15    10.892   11.412  119.1    4.4   200   32.8 
2026-04-02 00:00 UT   13 49 51.1   +54 50 45    10.902   11.419  118.9    4.4   199   32.8 
2026-04-03 00:00 UT   13 49 21.0   +54 53 10    10.912   11.426  118.7    4.4   198   32.8 

    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.