C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Dec 2019	9.8	2.335 AU	1.525 AU	03h34m	+52°42'	136.1°	17.0°	115°
Perihelion	6 May 2020	8.6	1.602 AU	1.700 AU	07h02m	+75°26'	67.0°	35.4°	67°
Today	15 Jan 2026	22.5	16.457 AU	17.158 AU	19h41m	-64°26'	43.3°	2.4°	182°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.7 + 5 log[∆] + 8.8 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/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9990570
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6018130
    i (Inclination)                 : 57.26870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 64.40930
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 92.77400
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -20.46998
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 57.16439
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458976.03590
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 70008.40

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 14
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-A43

    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
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   19 41 01.0   -64 26 46    17.153   16.448   43.0    2.3   180   22.5 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   19 41 36.1   -64 26 33    17.156   16.454   43.2    2.3   181   22.5 
2026-01-15 13:31 UT   19 41 55.8   -64 26 27    17.158   16.457   43.3    2.4   182   22.5 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   19 42 11.2   -64 26 23    17.160   16.460   43.4    2.4   183   22.5 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   19 42 46.2   -64 26 14    17.163   16.465   43.6    2.4   184   22.5 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   19 43 21.2   -64 26 08    17.166   16.471   43.9    2.4   185   22.5 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   19 43 56.2   -64 26 04    17.169   16.477   44.1    2.4   186   22.5 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   19 44 31.1   -64 26 01    17.171   16.482   44.4    2.4   188   22.5 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   19 45 06.0   -64 26 01    17.173   16.488   44.6    2.4   189   22.5 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   19 45 40.7   -64 26 03    17.176   16.494   44.9    2.4   190   22.5 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   19 46 15.4   -64 26 06    17.177   16.499   45.2    2.4   191   22.5 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   19 46 50.0   -64 26 12    17.179   16.505   45.5    2.4   192   22.5 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   19 47 24.6   -64 26 20    17.181   16.511   45.9    2.5   193   22.5 

    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.