C/2018 X3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	8 Dec 2018	20.0	2.703 AU	1.726 AU	04h45m	+14°32'	171.0°	3.3°	24°
Perihelion	1 Jan 2019	20.1	2.694 AU	1.820 AU	04h20m	+21°20'	146.4°	11.6°	80°
Today	20 May 2025	31.4	13.607 AU	12.688 AU	15h42m	+05°38'	154.2°	1.9°	176°

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)                : 0.7829070
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6944260
            i (Inclination)                 : 43.42600
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.79660
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.86420
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.69797
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.09335
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458485.12380
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 43.73

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 19
            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
2025-05-20 00:00 UT   15 42 17.6   +05 38 43    12.684   13.604  154.4    1.8   178   31.4 
2025-05-20 20:35 UT   15 42 03.8   +05 38 58    12.688   13.607  154.2    1.9   176   31.4 
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   15 42 01.5   +05 38 60    12.689   13.607  154.1    1.9   175   31.4 
2025-05-22 00:00 UT   15 41 45.3   +05 39 15    12.694   13.610  153.8    1.9   173   31.4 
2025-05-23 00:00 UT   15 41 29.2   +05 39 28    12.700   13.614  153.5    1.9   171   31.4 
2025-05-24 00:00 UT   15 41 13.1   +05 39 39    12.706   13.617  153.1    1.9   169   31.4 
2025-05-25 00:00 UT   15 40 57.1   +05 39 47    12.713   13.621  152.7    2.0   167   31.4 
2025-05-26 00:00 UT   15 40 41.1   +05 39 54    12.719   13.624  152.3    2.0   165   31.4 
2025-05-27 00:00 UT   15 40 25.1   +05 39 58    12.726   13.628  151.8    2.0   163   31.4 
2025-05-28 00:00 UT   15 40 09.2   +05 40 01    12.733   13.631  151.3    2.0   161   31.4 
2025-05-29 00:00 UT   15 39 53.4   +05 40 01    12.741   13.635  150.8    2.1   159   31.4 
2025-05-30 00:00 UT   15 39 37.7   +05 39 59    12.749   13.638  150.2    2.1   157   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.