C/2026 O1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	1 Sep 2026	19.2	4.159 AU	3.187 AU	23h35m	-20°16'	162.4°	4.2°	311°
Nearest approach	14 Jun 2027	12.6	1.572 AU	1.074 AU	08h00m	-70°37'	97.5°	39.8°	145°
Perihelion	18 Jul 2027	13.2	1.499 AU	1.558 AU	10h56m	-28°55'	67.5°	38.8°	132°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (10.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2026 O1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0010140
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.4994480
    i (Inclination)                 : 137.25350
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 177.92360
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 304.41700
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 224.90922
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -34.05143
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461604.86990

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 31
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-Q57

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-31 00:00 UT   23 37 24.6   -19 50 10     3.206    4.175  161.5    4.4   304   19.2 
2026-09-01 00:00 UT   23 36 05.0   -20 05 45     3.194    4.166  162.1    4.3   308   19.2 
2026-09-01 15:47 UT   23 35 12.0   -20 16 00     3.187    4.159  162.4    4.2   311   19.2 
2026-09-02 00:00 UT   23 34 44.2   -20 21 21     3.183    4.156  162.5    4.2   313   19.2 
2026-09-03 00:00 UT   23 33 22.3   -20 36 57     3.172    4.147  162.9    4.1   317   19.2 
2026-09-04 00:00 UT   23 31 59.3   -20 52 33     3.162    4.137  163.2    4.0   322   19.2 
2026-09-05 00:00 UT   23 30 35.2   -21 08 08     3.151    4.127  163.3    4.0   327   19.1 
2026-09-06 00:00 UT   23 29 10.0   -21 23 42     3.142    4.118  163.4    4.0   331   19.1 
2026-09-07 00:00 UT   23 27 43.9   -21 39 14     3.133    4.108  163.3    4.0   336   19.1 
2026-09-08 00:00 UT   23 26 16.8   -21 54 44     3.124    4.099  163.2    4.1   341   19.1 
2026-09-09 00:00 UT   23 24 48.7   -22 10 11     3.116    4.089  162.9    4.2   346   19.1 
2026-09-10 00:00 UT   23 23 19.8   -22 25 34     3.108    4.080  162.5    4.3   351   19.1 
2026-09-11 00:00 UT   23 21 50.1   -22 40 53     3.101    4.070  162.0    4.4   355   19.1 

    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.