C/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Dec 2018	20.0	2.704 AU	1.726 AU	04h45m	+14°32'	171.0°	3.3°	24°
Perihelion	1 Jan 2019	20.1	2.695 AU	1.820 AU	04h20m	+21°21'	146.4°	11.7°	80°
Today	1 Jun 2025	31.4	13.648 AU	12.773 AU	15h38m	+05°39'	148.5°	2.2°	152°

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/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7829050
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6945510
            i (Inclination)                 : 43.42590
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.79670
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.86590
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.69931
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.09218
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458485.13220
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 43.73

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 31
            Reference                       : MPC114604

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 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. (14.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-06-01 00:00 UT   15 39 06.4   +05 39 48    12.765   13.645  149.1    2.2   154   31.4 
2025-06-01 23:40 UT   15 38 51.2   +05 39 40    12.773   13.648  148.5    2.2   152   31.4 
2025-06-02 00:00 UT   15 38 51.0   +05 39 39    12.773   13.648  148.5    2.2   152   31.4 
2025-06-03 00:00 UT   15 38 35.6   +05 39 29    12.782   13.652  147.9    2.3   151   31.4 
2025-06-04 00:00 UT   15 38 20.3   +05 39 16    12.791   13.655  147.2    2.3   149   31.4 
2025-06-05 00:00 UT   15 38 05.1   +05 39 01    12.800   13.659  146.6    2.3   148   31.4 
2025-06-06 00:00 UT   15 37 50.1   +05 38 43    12.810   13.662  145.9    2.4   147   31.4 
2025-06-07 00:00 UT   15 37 35.1   +05 38 24    12.820   13.666  145.2    2.4   145   31.4 
2025-06-08 00:00 UT   15 37 20.3   +05 38 02    12.830   13.669  144.5    2.5   144   31.4 
2025-06-09 00:00 UT   15 37 05.6   +05 37 39    12.840   13.673  143.8    2.5   143   31.4 
2025-06-10 00:00 UT   15 36 51.1   +05 37 13    12.850   13.676  143.1    2.6   142   31.4 
2025-06-11 00:00 UT   15 36 36.7   +05 36 45    12.861   13.679  142.4    2.6   141   31.4 

    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.