C/2015 V4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Aug 2016	19.8	5.432 AU	6.183 AU	09h10m	-23°38'	38.7°	6.7°	216°
Nearest approach	28 Feb 2017	19.3	5.548 AU	4.716 AU	09h52m	-25°49'	144.0°	6.0°	23°
Today	2 Mar 2026	26.9	16.932 AU	16.890 AU	17h09m	+35°47'	90.7°	3.4°	278°

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. (8.5 + 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/2015 V4 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7053270
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4322540
    i (Inclination)                 : 60.77170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.78300
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 306.79490
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 146.64518
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.33318
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457631.16480
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 79.15

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 01
    Reference                       : MPC104791

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   17 09 44.0   +35 41 58    16.900   16.927   89.8    3.4   280   26.9 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   17 09 49.5   +35 45 01    16.895   16.930   90.3    3.4   279   26.9 
2026-03-02 16:47 UT   17 09 53.2   +35 47 09    16.890   16.932   90.7    3.4   278   26.9 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   17 09 54.7   +35 48 04    16.889   16.933   90.9    3.4   278   26.9 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   17 09 59.7   +35 51 08    16.883   16.936   91.4    3.4   277   26.9 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   17 10 04.3   +35 54 13    16.877   16.939   91.9    3.4   276   26.9 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   17 10 08.7   +35 57 18    16.871   16.942   92.4    3.4   276   26.9 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   17 10 12.7   +36 00 23    16.865   16.945   92.9    3.4   275   26.9 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   17 10 16.5   +36 03 29    16.860   16.948   93.4    3.4   274   26.9 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   17 10 20.0   +36 06 36    16.854   16.951   93.9    3.3   273   26.9 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   17 10 23.2   +36 09 42    16.848   16.954   94.4    3.3   272   26.9 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   17 10 26.1   +36 12 49    16.843   16.957   94.9    3.3   271   26.9 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   17 10 28.7   +36 15 56    16.837   16.961   95.5    3.3   270   26.9 

    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.