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	16 Feb 2026	26.9	16.889 AU	16.974 AU	17h08m	+35°05'	83.4°	3.3°	290°

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)                : 0.7053260
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.4320790
    i (Inclination)                 : 60.77220
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 179.78560
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 306.79160
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 146.64504
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.33586
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457631.14520
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 79.15

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 15
    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
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   17 07 57.5   +35 00 60    16.983   16.884   82.6    3.3   291   26.9 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   17 08 06.8   +35 03 48    16.977   16.887   83.1    3.3   291   26.9 
2026-02-16 15:42 UT   17 08 12.8   +35 05 38    16.974   16.889   83.4    3.3   290   26.9 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   17 08 16.0   +35 06 37    16.972   16.890   83.6    3.3   290   26.9 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   17 08 24.8   +35 09 28    16.966   16.893   84.1    3.3   289   26.9 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   17 08 33.4   +35 12 20    16.960   16.896   84.6    3.3   288   26.9 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   17 08 41.7   +35 15 13    16.954   16.899   85.2    3.3   287   26.9 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   17 08 49.7   +35 18 07    16.948   16.902   85.7    3.3   286   26.9 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   17 08 57.5   +35 21 03    16.942   16.906   86.2    3.3   286   26.9 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   17 09 05.0   +35 23 59    16.936   16.909   86.7    3.3   285   26.9 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   17 09 12.2   +35 26 57    16.930   16.912   87.2    3.4   284   26.9 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   17 09 19.1   +35 29 55    16.924   16.915   87.8    3.4   283   26.9 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   17 09 25.7   +35 32 55    16.918   16.918   88.3    3.4   282   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.