C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	4 Feb 2021	15.5	1.426 AU	1.246 AU	01h45m	+25°53'	78.5°	42.6°	66°
Perihelion	13 Mar 2021	15.2	1.318 AU	1.302 AU	03h58m	+17°01'	68.6°	44.6°	80°
Today	2 Jan 2026	31.2	14.830 AU	15.691 AU	16h56m	-35°24'	27.9°	1.8°	251°

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 13.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0009380
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.3182260
    i (Inclination)                 : 29.76870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 279.85380
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 186.85370
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 285.81005
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.39674
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459286.77990

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-GA9

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-01 00:00 UT   16 56 03.6   -35 23 35    15.693   14.820   26.5    1.7   250   31.2 
2026-01-02 00:00 UT   16 56 22.2   -35 24 11    15.692   14.826   27.4    1.7   251   31.2 
2026-01-02 14:09 UT   16 56 33.0   -35 24 33    15.691   14.830   27.9    1.8   251   31.2 
2026-01-03 00:00 UT   16 56 40.6   -35 24 48    15.691   14.832   28.2    1.8   252   31.2 
2026-01-04 00:00 UT   16 56 58.9   -35 25 25    15.690   14.838   29.1    1.8   252   31.2 
2026-01-05 00:00 UT   16 57 17.1   -35 26 02    15.688   14.844   29.9    1.9   253   31.2 
2026-01-06 00:00 UT   16 57 35.1   -35 26 40    15.686   14.850   30.8    1.9   254   31.2 
2026-01-07 00:00 UT   16 57 52.9   -35 27 18    15.684   14.856   31.7    2.0   255   31.2 
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   16 58 10.6   -35 27 56    15.682   14.863   32.5    2.0   256   31.2 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   16 58 28.2   -35 28 35    15.679   14.869   33.4    2.1   256   31.2 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   16 58 45.6   -35 29 15    15.676   14.875   34.3    2.1   257   31.2 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   16 59 02.8   -35 29 54    15.673   14.881   35.2    2.2   257   31.2 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   16 59 19.8   -35 30 34    15.670   14.887   36.1    2.2   258   31.2 

    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.