C/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	21 Jul 2025	19.6	13.205 AU	12.596 AU	16h05m	-21°01'	125.0°	3.6°	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°46'	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)                : 0.9981570
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.8291690
            i (Inclination)                 : 64.90090
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.95860
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 230.42530
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 94.12609
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.26778
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462351.71580
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 450406.55

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 20
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-N64

            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
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   16 05 31.1   -21 01 37    12.593   13.206  125.3    3.6   101   19.6 
2025-07-21 07:10 UT   16 05 28.2   -21 01 57    12.596   13.205  125.0    3.6   101   19.6 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   16 05 21.6   -21 02 42    12.604   13.203  124.3    3.6   101   19.6 
2025-07-23 00:00 UT   16 05 12.4   -21 03 48    12.615   13.200  123.3    3.7   101   19.6 
2025-07-24 00:00 UT   16 05 03.5   -21 04 54    12.626   13.197  122.3    3.7   101   19.6 
2025-07-25 00:00 UT   16 04 54.8   -21 06 00    12.638   13.194  121.3    3.8   101   19.6 
2025-07-26 00:00 UT   16 04 46.5   -21 07 08    12.649   13.191  120.4    3.8   101   19.6 
2025-07-27 00:00 UT   16 04 38.5   -21 08 16    12.661   13.189  119.4    3.8   101   19.6 
2025-07-28 00:00 UT   16 04 30.7   -21 09 24    12.673   13.186  118.4    3.9   101   19.6 
2025-07-29 00:00 UT   16 04 23.3   -21 10 33    12.685   13.183  117.4    3.9   101   19.6 
2025-07-30 00:00 UT   16 04 16.2   -21 11 43    12.697   13.180  116.4    4.0   101   19.6 
2025-07-31 00:00 UT   16 04 09.3   -21 12 53    12.709   13.177  115.5    4.0   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.