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	2 Jul 2026	30.2	10.462 AU	10.148 AU	13h40m	-06°15'	105.3°	5.4°	112°

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)                : 0.8939250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.1753500
    i (Inclination)                 : 136.48000
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 214.86410
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 232.76020
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.21411
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -33.24412
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459911.47330
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 92.87

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194182

    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
2026-07-01 00:00 UT   13 40 26.5   -06 17 04    10.117   10.454  106.7    5.3   112   30.2 
2026-07-02 00:00 UT   13 40 18.6   -06 15 53    10.139   10.460  105.7    5.4   112   30.2 
2026-07-02 10:34 UT   13 40 15.2   -06 15 22    10.148   10.462  105.3    5.4   112   30.2 
2026-07-03 00:00 UT   13 40 11.1   -06 14 44    10.161   10.466  104.7    5.4   112   30.2 
2026-07-04 00:00 UT   13 40 03.9   -06 13 38    10.183   10.471  103.7    5.4   112   30.2 
2026-07-05 00:00 UT   13 39 57.2   -06 12 33    10.205   10.477  102.7    5.4   112   30.2 
2026-07-06 00:00 UT   13 39 50.8   -06 11 32    10.227   10.482  101.8    5.4   112   30.3 
2026-07-07 00:00 UT   13 39 44.8   -06 10 32    10.250   10.488  100.8    5.5   112   30.3 
2026-07-08 00:00 UT   13 39 39.1   -06 09 36    10.272   10.493   99.8    5.5   112   30.3 
2026-07-09 00:00 UT   13 39 33.9   -06 08 41    10.294   10.499   98.8    5.5   112   30.3 
2026-07-10 00:00 UT   13 39 29.0   -06 07 49    10.317   10.504   97.9    5.5   112   30.3 
2026-07-11 00:00 UT   13 39 24.5   -06 06 59    10.339   10.510   96.9    5.5   112   30.3 
2026-07-12 00:00 UT   13 39 20.4   -06 06 11    10.362   10.516   95.9    5.5   112   30.3 

    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.