C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	7 Jul 2015	3.3	0.304 AU	1.243 AU	07h34m	+30°05'	10.3°	36.8°	46°
Nearest approach	20 Jul 2015	5.3	0.491 AU	1.175 AU	09h27m	+10°10'	24.5°	59.3°	118°
Today	8 Jun 2026	29.5	27.253 AU	26.723 AU	21h38m	-58°38'	120.5°	1.8°	276°

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. (8.0 + 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/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9995250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.3036950
    i (Inclination)                 : 43.18260
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 8.57060
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 119.95850
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 316.89556
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 36.36244
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457210.57670
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 16166.50

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194138

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   21 39 00.1   -58 35 57    26.731   27.246  119.6    1.9   274   29.5 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   21 38 54.0   -58 37 31    26.726   27.251  120.2    1.8   275   29.5 
2026-06-08 12:18 UT   21 38 50.7   -58 38 18    26.723   27.253  120.5    1.8   276   29.5 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   21 38 47.6   -58 39 04    26.721   27.255  120.8    1.8   276   29.5 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   21 38 40.9   -58 40 37    26.716   27.260  121.4    1.8   277   29.5 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   21 38 34.1   -58 42 10    26.712   27.265  122.0    1.8   278   29.5 
2026-06-12 00:00 UT   21 38 26.9   -58 43 43    26.707   27.269  122.6    1.8   279   29.5 
2026-06-13 00:00 UT   21 38 19.5   -58 45 15    26.703   27.274  123.2    1.8   280   29.5 
2026-06-14 00:00 UT   21 38 11.9   -58 46 47    26.699   27.278  123.8    1.8   281   29.5 
2026-06-15 00:00 UT   21 38 04.0   -58 48 19    26.696   27.283  124.4    1.8   282   29.5 
2026-06-16 00:00 UT   21 37 55.9   -58 49 50    26.692   27.288  125.0    1.7   283   29.5 
2026-06-17 00:00 UT   21 37 47.5   -58 51 21    26.688   27.292  125.5    1.7   284   29.5 
2026-06-18 00:00 UT   21 37 38.9   -58 52 52    26.685   27.297  126.1    1.7   285   29.5 

    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.