C/2024 F2 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 26 May 2024 | 19.4 | 3.991 AU | 3.016 AU | 16h10m | -02°53' | 161.7° | 4.6° | 178° |
Perihelion | 29 Jul 2024 | 19.7 | 3.968 AU | 3.481 AU | 15h57m | -05°41' | 111.6° | 13.8° | 108° |
Today | 15 Jan 2025 | 20.7 | 4.127 AU | 5.069 AU | 18h49m | -15°38' | 15.0° | 3.5° | 294° |
C/2024 F2 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-01-15
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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) : 0.6010870
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.9681750
i (Inclination) : 13.74180
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 138.94270
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 112.90100
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 72.44621
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 12.63992
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2460520.55700
P (Orbital period in years) : 31.37
Epoch : 2025 Jan 14
Reference : MPEC 2024-Q20
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
2025-01-15 00:00 UT 18 48 53.4 -15 39 06 5.070 4.126 14.8 3.5 294 20.7
2025-01-15 07:43 UT 18 49 18.1 -15 38 54 5.069 4.127 15.0 3.5 294 20.7
2025-01-16 00:00 UT 18 50 10.2 -15 38 29 5.068 4.128 15.4 3.6 293 20.7
2025-01-17 00:00 UT 18 51 26.8 -15 37 49 5.067 4.130 16.0 3.8 291 20.7
2025-01-18 00:00 UT 18 52 43.2 -15 37 05 5.065 4.132 16.6 3.9 290 20.7
2025-01-19 00:00 UT 18 53 59.5 -15 36 19 5.063 4.134 17.3 4.0 289 20.7
2025-01-20 00:00 UT 18 55 15.5 -15 35 30 5.061 4.135 17.9 4.2 288 20.7
2025-01-21 00:00 UT 18 56 31.4 -15 34 39 5.058 4.137 18.5 4.3 286 20.7
2025-01-22 00:00 UT 18 57 47.1 -15 33 44 5.056 4.139 19.2 4.5 285 20.7
2025-01-23 00:00 UT 18 59 02.6 -15 32 47 5.053 4.141 19.8 4.6 285 20.7
2025-01-24 00:00 UT 19 00 17.9 -15 31 47 5.051 4.143 20.5 4.8 284 20.7
2025-01-25 00:00 UT 19 01 32.9 -15 30 44 5.048 4.145 21.2 4.9 283 20.7
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.