C/2022 S5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Oct 2022	19.2	2.254 AU	1.363 AU	01h42m	-27°46'	144.6°	14.9°	334°
Perihelion	27 Nov 2022	20.1	2.175 AU	2.174 AU	22h25m	-45°54'	77.0°	26.2°	73°
Today	18 May 2026	29.9	10.210 AU	9.308 AU	13h52m	-07°47'	151.6°	2.7°	117°

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. (15.0 + 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 S5 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8939260
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1754630
    i (Inclination)                 : 136.48140
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 214.86430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 232.76220
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.21158
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.24415
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459911.47040
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 92.88

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 17
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   13 52 40.4   -07 51 50     9.290   10.202  153.0    2.6   117   29.9 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   13 52 17.0   -07 48 55     9.304   10.208  151.9    2.7   117   29.9 
2026-05-18 07:52 UT   13 52 09.4   -07 47 58     9.308   10.210  151.6    2.7   117   29.9 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   13 51 53.8   -07 46 03     9.317   10.213  150.9    2.8   117   29.9 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   13 51 30.9   -07 43 12     9.331   10.219  149.8    2.9   117   29.9 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   13 51 08.3   -07 40 23     9.346   10.225  148.8    2.9   116   29.9 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   13 50 46.0   -07 37 36     9.360   10.230  147.7    3.0   116   30.0 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   13 50 23.9   -07 34 51     9.375   10.236  146.6    3.1   116   30.0 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   13 50 02.1   -07 32 08     9.390   10.242  145.6    3.2   116   30.0 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   13 49 40.6   -07 29 27     9.405   10.247  144.5    3.3   116   30.0 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   13 49 19.4   -07 26 48     9.421   10.253  143.5    3.4   116   30.0 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   13 48 58.6   -07 24 11     9.437   10.258  142.4    3.5   115   30.0 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   13 48 38.0   -07 21 36     9.453   10.264  141.4    3.5   115   30.0 

    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.