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	9 May 2025	31.3	13.568 AU	12.646 AU	15h45m	+05°33'	155.1°	1.8°	202°

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)                : 0.7829100
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6943100
            i (Inclination)                 : 43.42610
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 78.79650
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 359.86270
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 78.69678
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.09438
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458485.11790
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 43.72

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 08
            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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   15 45 15.3   +05 33 23    12.644   13.565  154.9    1.8   204   31.3 
2025-05-09 19:39 UT   15 45 02.2   +05 33 54    12.646   13.568  155.1    1.8   202   31.3 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   15 44 59.3   +05 34 01    12.646   13.569  155.1    1.8   202   31.3 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   15 44 43.2   +05 34 38    12.649   13.572  155.2    1.8   199   31.3 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   15 44 27.1   +05 35 13    12.652   13.576  155.3    1.8   197   31.3 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   15 44 11.0   +05 35 46    12.655   13.579  155.3    1.8   194   31.3 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   15 43 54.8   +05 36 18    12.658   13.583  155.3    1.8   192   31.3 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   15 43 38.6   +05 36 47    12.662   13.586  155.2    1.8   190   31.3 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   15 43 22.4   +05 37 14    12.665   13.590  155.2    1.8   187   31.3 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   15 43 06.2   +05 37 39    12.670   13.593  155.0    1.8   185   31.3 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   15 42 50.0   +05 38 02    12.674   13.597  154.9    1.8   182   31.3 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   15 42 33.8   +05 38 24    12.679   13.600  154.7    1.8   180   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.