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C/2024 T3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach20 Nov 202419.83.849 AU3.114 AU 03h22m-27°44'132.3°10.9°6°
Perihelion15 Mar 202520.33.716 AU4.202 AU 03h18m+01°29'54.6°12.6°86°
Today16 Nov 202520.64.281 AU3.528 AU 06h32m+42°43'134.7°9.5°253°
C/2024 T3 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-11-16
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 T3 (PANSTARRS) are: 

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9582110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.7160140
    i (Inclination)                 : 53.43620
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 74.82430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 336.89420
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 60.56361
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -18.37274
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460749.80270
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 838.54

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2025-V36

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   06 33 10.1   +42 20 29     3.538    4.273  132.9    9.8   255   20.6 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   06 32 40.0   +42 32 18     3.533    4.277  133.8    9.6   254   20.6 
2025-11-16 23:15 UT   06 32 09.5   +42 43 43     3.528    4.281  134.7    9.5   253   20.6 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   06 32 08.5   +42 44 05     3.527    4.281  134.7    9.4   253   20.6 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   06 31 35.6   +42 55 49     3.522    4.286  135.6    9.3   252   20.6 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   06 31 01.3   +43 07 32     3.518    4.290  136.6    9.1   251   20.6 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   06 30 25.7   +43 19 11     3.513    4.294  137.5    8.9   250   20.6 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   06 29 48.8   +43 30 47     3.509    4.298  138.4    8.8   249   20.6 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   06 29 10.5   +43 42 20     3.505    4.302  139.3    8.6   247   20.6 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   06 28 30.9   +43 53 49     3.502    4.307  140.2    8.4   246   20.6 
2025-11-24 00:00 UT   06 27 50.0   +44 05 14     3.498    4.311  141.0    8.3   245   20.6 
2025-11-25 00:00 UT   06 27 07.8   +44 16 35     3.495    4.315  141.9    8.1   244   20.6 
2025-11-26 00:00 UT   06 26 24.3   +44 27 51     3.492    4.319  142.7    8.0   242   20.6 




    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.

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