P/2024 X3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Sep 2024	21.3	2.614 AU	3.274 AU	08h13m	+19°35'	42.1°	15.0°	282°
Nearest approach	8 Feb 2025	20.7	2.915 AU	1.950 AU	10h27m	+12°24'	165.0°	5.0°	282°
Today	25 Mar 2025	21.2	3.092 AU	2.235 AU	10h06m	+14°49'	143.2°	11.1°	114°

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 P/2024 X3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6263940
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6140620
            i (Inclination)                 : 2.97240
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.36490
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 352.93450
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.30881
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.36546
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460559.25650
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 18.51

            Epoch                           : 2025 Mar 24
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-EG2

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.549
        

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. (14.60 + 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
2025-03-25 00:00 UT   10 06 27.3   +14 48 47     2.225    3.088  144.0   10.9   115   21.2 
2025-03-25 20:12 UT   10 06 17.0   +14 49 39     2.235    3.092  143.2   11.1   114   21.2 
2025-03-26 00:00 UT   10 06 15.2   +14 49 48     2.237    3.093  143.0   11.2   114   21.3 
2025-03-27 00:00 UT   10 06 04.2   +14 50 42     2.249    3.097  142.0   11.4   114   21.3 
2025-03-28 00:00 UT   10 05 54.4   +14 51 28     2.261    3.101  140.9   11.7   114   21.3 
2025-03-29 00:00 UT   10 05 45.7   +14 52 07     2.274    3.105  139.9   11.9   114   21.3 
2025-03-30 00:00 UT   10 05 38.2   +14 52 39     2.287    3.109  138.9   12.2   114   21.3 
2025-03-31 00:00 UT   10 05 31.8   +14 53 04     2.300    3.114  137.9   12.4   114   21.3 
2025-04-01 00:00 UT   10 05 26.5   +14 53 21     2.313    3.118  136.9   12.7   114   21.4 
2025-04-02 00:00 UT   10 05 22.5   +14 53 31     2.326    3.122  135.9   12.9   114   21.4 
2025-04-03 00:00 UT   10 05 19.6   +14 53 34     2.339    3.126  134.9   13.1   113   21.4 
2025-04-04 00:00 UT   10 05 17.9   +14 53 30     2.353    3.131  133.9   13.3   113   21.4 

    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.