C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 4 Mar 2013 | 0.7 | 0.320 AU | 1.089 AU | 23h55m | -16°05' | 16.9° | 64.0° | 123° |
Perihelion | 8 Mar 2013 | 0.4 | 0.296 AU | 1.098 AU | 00h14m | -05°54' | 15.3° | 61.8° | 93° |
Today | 13 Aug 2025 | 27.6 | 29.829 AU | 29.702 AU | 16h18m | +17°07' | 96.2° | 1.9° | 107° |
C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-08-13
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9998370
q (Perihelion distance) : 0.2963480
i (Inclination) : 84.04880
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 65.86430
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 333.47960
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 62.90247
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -26.36641
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2456359.52500
P (Orbital period in years) : 77521.40
Epoch : 2020 Sep 26
Reference : MPC115880
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. (5.50 + 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
2025-08-13 00:00 UT 16 18 42.8 +17 08 32 29.687 29.825 96.8 1.9 108 27.6
2025-08-13 19:46 UT 16 18 41.1 +17 07 34 29.702 29.829 96.2 1.9 107 27.6
2025-08-14 00:00 UT 16 18 40.8 +17 07 22 29.705 29.830 96.1 1.9 107 27.6
2025-08-15 00:00 UT 16 18 38.8 +17 06 11 29.723 29.834 95.3 1.9 107 27.6
2025-08-16 00:00 UT 16 18 37.0 +17 05 00 29.740 29.838 94.5 1.9 106 27.6
2025-08-17 00:00 UT 16 18 35.3 +17 03 49 29.758 29.843 93.8 1.9 105 27.6
2025-08-18 00:00 UT 16 18 33.8 +17 02 37 29.776 29.847 93.0 1.9 105 27.6
2025-08-19 00:00 UT 16 18 32.4 +17 01 24 29.794 29.852 92.3 1.9 104 27.6
2025-08-20 00:00 UT 16 18 31.1 +17 00 12 29.812 29.856 91.5 1.9 104 27.6
2025-08-21 00:00 UT 16 18 30.0 +16 58 58 29.830 29.861 90.7 1.9 103 27.6
2025-08-22 00:00 UT 16 18 29.0 +16 57 45 29.847 29.865 90.0 1.9 102 27.6
2025-08-23 00:00 UT 16 18 28.1 +16 56 31 29.865 29.869 89.2 1.9 102 27.6
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.