C/2026 P2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	8 Oct 2026	21.2	4.817 AU	3.836 AU	01h31m	-01°49'	167.9°	2.5°	308°
Nearest approach	16 Nov 2027	17.2	2.481 AU	2.257 AU	14h48m	+72°05'	91.1°	23.5°	351°
Perihelion	21 Nov 2027	17.2	2.480 AU	2.257 AU	15h04m	+70°51'	91.0°	23.5°	350°

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. (11.5 + 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 P2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9997990
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.4802440
    i (Inclination)                 : 63.01690
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 23.44390
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 78.88220
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 90.02589
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.97596
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461731.19560

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 07
    Reference                       : MPC xxxxx

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   01 32 04.7   -01 50 19     3.846    4.825  167.1    2.6   304   21.3 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   01 31 11.8   -01 49 23     3.836    4.817  167.9    2.5   308   21.2 
2026-10-08 00:48 UT   01 31 10.0   -01 49 21     3.836    4.817  167.9    2.5   308   21.2 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   01 30 18.4   -01 48 26     3.827    4.810  168.5    2.4   313   21.2 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   01 29 24.6   -01 47 25     3.818    4.802  169.0    2.3   318   21.2 
2026-10-11 00:00 UT   01 28 30.4   -01 46 22     3.809    4.794  169.5    2.2   324   21.2 
2026-10-12 00:00 UT   01 27 35.9   -01 45 16     3.801    4.787  169.8    2.1   331   21.2 
2026-10-13 00:00 UT   01 26 41.1   -01 44 08     3.793    4.779  169.9    2.1   338   21.2 
2026-10-14 00:00 UT   01 25 46.0   -01 42 56     3.786    4.771  170.0    2.1   344   21.2 
2026-10-15 00:00 UT   01 24 50.6   -01 41 41     3.779    4.763  169.9    2.1   351   21.2 
2026-10-16 00:00 UT   01 23 55.0   -01 40 23     3.772    4.756  169.6    2.2   358   21.2 
2026-10-17 00:00 UT   01 22 59.2   -01 39 02     3.765    4.748  169.3    2.2     4   21.1 
2026-10-18 00:00 UT   01 22 03.2   -01 37 37     3.759    4.740  168.8    2.3    10   21.1 

    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.