C/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	28 Aug 2025	19.7	13.096 AU	13.100 AU	16h03m	-21°51'	87.6°	4.4°	101°
Nearest approach	23 Jun 2029	18.3	10.832 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'	120.5°	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)                : 0.9980680
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.8294700
            i (Inclination)                 : 64.90000
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.95860
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 230.42210
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 94.12422
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.26479
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462351.68080
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 419662.46

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 27
            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
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   16 03 06.5   -21 50 18    13.087   13.098   88.4    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-08-28 22:24 UT   16 03 08.8   -21 51 42    13.100   13.096   87.6    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-08-29 00:00 UT   16 03 08.9   -21 51 48    13.101   13.096   87.5    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-08-30 00:00 UT   16 03 11.6   -21 53 19    13.115   13.093   86.5    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-08-31 00:00 UT   16 03 14.7   -21 54 51    13.129   13.090   85.6    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-01 00:00 UT   16 03 18.0   -21 56 23    13.143   13.087   84.6    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-02 00:00 UT   16 03 21.7   -21 57 56    13.157   13.084   83.7    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-03 00:00 UT   16 03 25.7   -21 59 30    13.171   13.082   82.7    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-04 00:00 UT   16 03 30.0   -22 01 04    13.185   13.079   81.8    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-05 00:00 UT   16 03 34.6   -22 02 39    13.199   13.076   80.8    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-06 00:00 UT   16 03 39.5   -22 04 15    13.213   13.073   79.9    4.4   101   19.7 
2025-09-07 00:00 UT   16 03 44.7   -22 05 52    13.226   13.071   79.0    4.3   101   19.7 

    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.