C/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	12 Aug 2025	19.6	13.141 AU	12.877 AU	16h03m	-21°28'	102.9°	4.3°	101°
Nearest approach	23 Jun 2029	18.3	10.831 AU	10.112 AU	18h24m	-70°16'	133.1°	3.9°	355°
Perihelion	3 Aug 2029	18.3	10.829 AU	10.280 AU	17h52m	-70°45'	120.4°	4.6°	51°

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/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9980910
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.8292850
            i (Inclination)                 : 64.90040
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.95860
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 230.42390
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 94.12536
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.26642
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462351.70650
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 427258.57

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 12
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-OF9

            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. (2.90 + 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
2025-08-12 00:00 UT   16 03 11.8   -21 27 49    12.865   13.143  103.8    4.3   101   19.6 
2025-08-12 21:04 UT   16 03 09.4   -21 28 59    12.877   13.141  102.9    4.3   101   19.6 
2025-08-13 00:00 UT   16 03 09.0   -21 29 09    12.879   13.140  102.8    4.3   101   19.6 
2025-08-14 00:00 UT   16 03 06.6   -21 30 28    12.892   13.138  101.9    4.3   101   19.6 
2025-08-15 00:00 UT   16 03 04.5   -21 31 49    12.906   13.135  100.9    4.3   101   19.6 
2025-08-16 00:00 UT   16 03 02.7   -21 33 10    12.920   13.132   99.9    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-17 00:00 UT   16 03 01.3   -21 34 32    12.933   13.129   99.0    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   16 03 00.1   -21 35 54    12.947   13.126   98.0    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   16 02 59.3   -21 37 17    12.961   13.124   97.0    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-20 00:00 UT   16 02 58.8   -21 38 41    12.975   13.121   96.1    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-21 00:00 UT   16 02 58.7   -21 40 06    12.989   13.118   95.1    4.4   101   19.6 
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   16 02 58.8   -21 41 31    13.003   13.115   94.2    4.4   101   19.6 

    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.