C/2024 C1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Feb 2024	20.9	4.561 AU	3.610 AU	10h42m	+26°31'	161.7°	3.9°	181°
Perihelion	31 Aug 2024	21.6	4.413 AU	5.346 AU	11h58m	+12°50'	20.2°	4.5°	80°
Today	30 Nov 2025	22.6	5.215 AU	6.167 AU	15h40m	-13°13'	13.9°	2.6°	309°

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. 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. (11.5 + 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/2024 C1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.5833020
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4129820
    i (Inclination)                 : 14.22660
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.81030
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 94.50130
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -1.54660
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 14.18180
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460553.70000
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 34.46

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 29
    Reference                       : MPC185658

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-29 00:00 UT   15 38 26.9   -13 06 14     6.167    5.210   12.8    2.4   312   22.6 
2025-11-30 00:00 UT   15 39 22.8   -13 10 17     6.167    5.213   13.5    2.5   310   22.6 
2025-11-30 16:25 UT   15 40 01.0   -13 13 02     6.167    5.215   13.9    2.6   309   22.6 
2025-12-01 00:00 UT   15 40 18.6   -13 14 17     6.167    5.216   14.2    2.7   309   22.6 
2025-12-02 00:00 UT   15 41 14.4   -13 18 16     6.166    5.219   14.9    2.8   307   22.6 
2025-12-03 00:00 UT   15 42 10.0   -13 22 12     6.165    5.222   15.6    2.9   306   22.6 
2025-12-04 00:00 UT   15 43 05.5   -13 26 06     6.164    5.225   16.3    3.0   305   22.6 
2025-12-05 00:00 UT   15 44 00.9   -13 29 57     6.163    5.228   17.0    3.2   303   22.6 
2025-12-06 00:00 UT   15 44 56.2   -13 33 47     6.161    5.232   17.7    3.3   302   22.6 
2025-12-07 00:00 UT   15 45 51.4   -13 37 34     6.160    5.235   18.4    3.4   301   22.6 
2025-12-08 00:00 UT   15 46 46.4   -13 41 19     6.158    5.238   19.2    3.5   300   22.6 
2025-12-09 00:00 UT   15 47 41.4   -13 45 01     6.156    5.241   19.9    3.7   300   22.6 
2025-12-10 00:00 UT   15 48 36.2   -13 48 41     6.154    5.244   20.7    3.8   299   22.6 

    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.