C/2024 C3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	9 Nov 2023	21.6	6.713 AU	7.180 AU	11h27m	+11°14'	58.3°	7.2°	298°
Nearest approach	8 Mar 2024	21.1	6.734 AU	5.745 AU	11h26m	+09°31'	174.6°	0.8°	204°
Today	25 Oct 2025	22.3	7.369 AU	8.342 AU	13h16m	-17°01'	11.1°	1.5°	245°

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. (9.0 + 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/2024 C3 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4249430
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.7133840
    i (Inclination)                 : 22.45160
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 359.70270
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 159.71700
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 340.84453
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.60769
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460257.66440
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 39.89

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 24
    Reference                       : MPC184412

    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
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   13 16 11.6   -16 55 43     8.343    7.367   10.5    1.4   241   22.3 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   13 16 47.8   -17 00 33     8.342    7.369   11.0    1.5   244   22.3 
2025-10-25 05:15 UT   13 16 55.7   -17 01 36     8.342    7.369   11.1    1.5   245   22.3 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   13 17 23.9   -17 05 23     8.341    7.370   11.6    1.6   247   22.3 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   13 18 00.0   -17 10 14     8.340    7.372   12.2    1.6   250   22.3 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   13 18 36.0   -17 15 05     8.339    7.374   12.8    1.7   252   22.3 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   13 19 12.0   -17 19 56     8.338    7.375   13.5    1.8   255   22.3 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   13 19 47.8   -17 24 47     8.336    7.377   14.2    1.9   257   22.3 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   13 20 23.6   -17 29 38     8.334    7.379   14.9    2.0   259   22.3 
2025-11-01 00:00 UT   13 20 59.3   -17 34 29     8.332    7.380   15.6    2.1   260   22.3 
2025-11-02 00:00 UT   13 21 35.0   -17 39 21     8.329    7.382   16.3    2.2   262   22.3 
2025-11-03 00:00 UT   13 22 10.5   -17 44 13     8.327    7.384   17.0    2.3   263   22.3 
2025-11-04 00:00 UT   13 22 45.9   -17 49 04     8.324    7.385   17.8    2.3   264   22.3 

    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.