C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 22 Dec 2017 | 11.6 | 2.973 AU | 2.050 AU | 04h34m | +10°59' | 155.5° | 7.9° | 57° |
Perihelion | 9 May 2018 | 11.9 | 2.595 AU | 3.270 AU | 05h30m | +44°56' | 41.0° | 14.8° | 60° |
Today | 4 Aug 2025 | 25.9 | 18.692 AU | 18.166 AU | 16h48m | -13°21' | 119.8° | 2.7° | 102° |
C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-08-04
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/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9946790
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.5945740
i (Inclination) : 58.37140
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 80.49850
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 33.08980
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 99.36514
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 27.70115
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458248.15790
P (Orbital period in years) : 10767.36
Epoch : 2023 Sep 24
Reference : MPEC 2021-N06
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 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 (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.35 + 5 log[∆] + 11.97 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
2025-08-04 00:00 UT 16 48 20.6 -13 20 59 18.154 18.688 120.4 2.7 102 25.9
2025-08-04 15:16 UT 16 48 16.9 -13 21 22 18.166 18.692 119.8 2.7 102 25.9
2025-08-05 00:00 UT 16 48 14.8 -13 21 35 18.174 18.694 119.4 2.7 102 25.9
2025-08-06 00:00 UT 16 48 09.1 -13 22 12 18.193 18.699 118.5 2.7 102 25.9
2025-08-07 00:00 UT 16 48 03.7 -13 22 49 18.213 18.704 117.5 2.8 102 25.9
2025-08-08 00:00 UT 16 47 58.4 -13 23 27 18.233 18.709 116.6 2.8 102 25.9
2025-08-09 00:00 UT 16 47 53.4 -13 24 05 18.253 18.714 115.6 2.8 101 25.9
2025-08-10 00:00 UT 16 47 48.5 -13 24 43 18.274 18.719 114.6 2.8 101 25.9
2025-08-11 00:00 UT 16 47 43.9 -13 25 22 18.294 18.725 113.7 2.8 101 25.9
2025-08-12 00:00 UT 16 47 39.5 -13 26 02 18.315 18.730 112.7 2.9 101 25.9
2025-08-13 00:00 UT 16 47 35.3 -13 26 42 18.335 18.735 111.7 2.9 101 25.9
2025-08-14 00:00 UT 16 47 31.3 -13 27 22 18.356 18.740 110.8 2.9 101 25.9
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.