C/2013 X1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Apr 2016	9.5	1.326 AU	1.984 AU	23h29m	-00°15'	36.9°	27.0°	251°
Nearest approach	21 Jun 2016	8.0	1.614 AU	0.656 AU	19h47m	-45°48'	148.9°	19.0°	307°
Today	9 May 2025	27.2	23.194 AU	22.654 AU	11h07m	-06°55'	121.2°	2.1°	106°

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/2013 X1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0005450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3256690
            i (Inclination)                 : 163.19370
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 131.57360
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 165.21110
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 145.75685
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.23254
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457497.95670

            Epoch                           : 2021 Jun 11
            Reference                       : MPC111767

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (10.50 + 5 log[∆] + 5.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 6.81 + 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   11 07 38.0   -06 55 43    22.645   23.192  121.7    2.1   106   27.2 
2025-05-09 12:17 UT   11 07 35.5   -06 55 10    22.654   23.194  121.2    2.1   106   27.2 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   11 07 33.1   -06 54 40    22.664   23.196  120.7    2.1   106   27.2 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   11 07 28.3   -06 53 37    22.683   23.201  119.8    2.2   107   27.2 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   11 07 23.6   -06 52 36    22.702   23.206  118.8    2.2   107   27.2 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   11 07 19.1   -06 51 35    22.722   23.211  117.8    2.2   107   27.2 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   11 07 14.8   -06 50 35    22.741   23.216  116.9    2.2   107   27.3 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   11 07 10.6   -06 49 35    22.761   23.221  115.9    2.2   108   27.3 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   11 07 06.6   -06 48 37    22.781   23.226  114.9    2.3   108   27.3 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   11 07 02.7   -06 47 39    22.801   23.231  114.0    2.3   108   27.3 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   11 06 59.0   -06 46 42    22.821   23.236  113.0    2.3   108   27.3 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   11 06 55.4   -06 45 46    22.841   23.241  112.1    2.3   109   27.3 

    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.