C/2024 N1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Oct 2025	20.2	4.399 AU	4.502 AU	16h22m	+60°26'	77.7°	12.8°	42°
Nearest approach	15 Feb 2026	20.2	4.507 AU	4.289 AU	17h09m	+71°43'	96.4°	12.6°	291°
Today	28 Oct 2026	21.5	5.334 AU	5.649 AU	11h33m	+43°24'	66.6°	9.8°	318°

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. (10.5 + 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 N1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0010590
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.3993180
    i (Inclination)                 : 88.78240
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 323.02470
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 91.29150
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 279.71873
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 88.22510
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460967.60300

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 23
    Reference                       : MPC194190

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-10-27 00:00 UT   11 33 02.4   +43 27 21     5.658    5.328   65.8    9.8   319   21.5 
2026-10-28 00:00 UT   11 33 21.7   +43 25 11     5.651    5.333   66.5    9.8   318   21.5 
2026-10-28 06:13 UT   11 33 26.6   +43 24 38     5.649    5.334   66.6    9.8   318   21.5 
2026-10-29 00:00 UT   11 33 40.5   +43 23 07     5.644    5.337   67.1    9.9   318   21.5 
2026-10-30 00:00 UT   11 33 58.7   +43 21 10     5.636    5.341   67.9    9.9   317   21.5 
2026-10-31 00:00 UT   11 34 16.3   +43 19 20     5.628    5.346   68.6   10.0   317   21.5 
2026-11-01 00:00 UT   11 34 33.3   +43 17 37     5.620    5.350   69.3   10.0   316   21.5 
2026-11-02 00:00 UT   11 34 49.6   +43 16 01     5.612    5.355   70.0   10.0   315   21.5 
2026-11-03 00:00 UT   11 35 05.4   +43 14 32     5.604    5.359   70.7   10.1   315   21.5 
2026-11-04 00:00 UT   11 35 20.5   +43 13 10     5.596    5.364   71.4   10.1   314   21.5 
2026-11-05 00:00 UT   11 35 34.9   +43 11 55     5.588    5.368   72.2   10.1   313   21.5 
2026-11-06 00:00 UT   11 35 48.7   +43 10 46     5.580    5.373   72.9   10.2   313   21.5 
2026-11-07 00:00 UT   11 36 01.8   +43 09 45     5.571    5.377   73.7   10.2   312   21.5 

    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.