C/2024 Q4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	12 Nov 2024	20.7	5.419 AU	4.806 AU	07h11m	+25°10'	123.8°	8.7°	275°
Nearest approach	1 Jan 2025	20.6	5.432 AU	4.450 AU	06h58m	+25°26'	176.7°	0.6°	221°
Today	20 Jan 2025	20.6	5.443 AU	4.503 AU	06h51m	+25°27'	160.9°	3.4°	102°

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 Q4 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9944830
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4187290
            i (Inclination)                 : 3.31150
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 324.30810
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 133.00000
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 277.35586
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 2.42125
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460626.64190
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 30781.63

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jan 19
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-A40

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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. (10.00 + 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
2025-01-20 00:00 UT   06 51 52.6   +25 27 28     4.499    5.442  161.7    3.3   103   20.6 
2025-01-20 16:48 UT   06 51 37.8   +25 27 24     4.503    5.443  160.9    3.4   102   20.6 
2025-01-21 00:00 UT   06 51 31.5   +25 27 22     4.505    5.443  160.6    3.4   102   20.6 
2025-01-22 00:00 UT   06 51 10.9   +25 27 15     4.511    5.444  159.5    3.6   102   20.6 
2025-01-23 00:00 UT   06 50 50.6   +25 27 06     4.517    5.445  158.5    3.8   101   20.6 
2025-01-24 00:00 UT   06 50 30.8   +25 26 57     4.523    5.445  157.4    4.0   101   20.6 
2025-01-25 00:00 UT   06 50 11.4   +25 26 46     4.530    5.446  156.3    4.2   101   20.6 
2025-01-26 00:00 UT   06 49 52.5   +25 26 34     4.537    5.447  155.2    4.3   100   20.6 
2025-01-27 00:00 UT   06 49 34.0   +25 26 21     4.544    5.447  154.1    4.5   100   20.6 
2025-01-28 00:00 UT   06 49 16.0   +25 26 07     4.552    5.448  153.1    4.7   100   20.7 
2025-01-29 00:00 UT   06 48 58.6   +25 25 52     4.560    5.449  152.0    4.9    99   20.7 
2025-01-30 00:00 UT   06 48 41.7   +25 25 35     4.568    5.450  150.9    5.0    99   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.