C/2024 F2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	3 May 2024	19.5	4.011 AU	3.085 AU	16h20m	-03°27'	153.2°	6.5°	241°
Nearest approach	26 May 2024	19.4	3.992 AU	3.017 AU	16h10m	-02°53'	161.7°	4.6°	178°
Perihelion	28 Jul 2024	19.7	3.969 AU	3.478 AU	15h57m	-05°39'	111.9°	13.7°	108°

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/2024 F2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6013080
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9691690
            i (Inclination)                 : 13.74040
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 138.96610
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 112.82220
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 72.38909
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.64609
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460520.21440
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 31.41

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 02
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-H91

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

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 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. (11.00 + 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
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   16 20 21.8   -03 28 39     3.089    4.011  152.7    6.6   242   19.5 
2024-05-03 14:18 UT   16 20 09.2   -03 27 15     3.085    4.011  153.2    6.5   241   19.5 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   16 20 00.6   -03 26 18     3.083    4.010  153.5    6.4   240   19.5 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   16 19 38.8   -03 24 01     3.077    4.009  154.2    6.3   239   19.5 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   16 19 16.4   -03 21 47     3.071    4.008  155.0    6.1   237   19.5 
2024-05-07 00:00 UT   16 18 53.5   -03 19 37     3.066    4.008  155.7    5.9   235   19.5 
2024-05-08 00:00 UT   16 18 30.1   -03 17 32     3.061    4.007  156.4    5.8   233   19.5 
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   16 18 06.1   -03 15 30     3.057    4.006  157.1    5.6   231   19.5 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   16 17 41.8   -03 13 33     3.052    4.005  157.7    5.5   229   19.4 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   16 17 17.0   -03 11 41     3.048    4.004  158.3    5.3   226   19.4 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   16 16 51.8   -03 09 53     3.044    4.003  158.9    5.2   224   19.4 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   16 16 26.2   -03 08 10     3.040    4.002  159.4    5.1   221   19.4 

    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.