C/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	22 Sep 2026	19.2	12.104 AU	12.431 AU	16h15m	-32°29'	68.8°	4.4°	105°
Nearest approach	23 Jun 2029	18.3	10.835 AU	10.115 AU	18h24m	-70°14'	133.1°	3.9°	355°
Perihelion	2 Aug 2029	18.3	10.833 AU	10.276 AU	17h53m	-70°45'	120.9°	4.6°	50°

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. (2.9 + 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/2025 M1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9979990
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 10.8330610
    i (Inclination)                 : 64.87940
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.95580
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 230.38010
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 94.10454
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.22155
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462350.83200
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 398342.05

    Epoch                           : 2026 Sep 22
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-O09

    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
2026-09-21 00:00 UT   16 15 31.8   -32 27 18    12.407   12.108   70.5    4.5   104   19.2 
2026-09-22 00:00 UT   16 15 42.5   -32 28 32    12.420   12.106   69.6    4.5   104   19.2 
2026-09-22 20:21 UT   16 15 51.8   -32 29 36    12.431   12.104   68.8    4.4   105   19.2 
2026-09-23 00:00 UT   16 15 53.5   -32 29 47    12.433   12.104   68.6    4.4   105   19.2 
2026-09-24 00:00 UT   16 16 04.9   -32 31 03    12.446   12.102   67.7    4.4   105   19.2 
2026-09-25 00:00 UT   16 16 16.5   -32 32 20    12.459   12.099   66.8    4.4   105   19.2 
2026-09-26 00:00 UT   16 16 28.5   -32 33 38    12.472   12.097   65.9    4.3   105   19.2 
2026-09-27 00:00 UT   16 16 40.8   -32 34 57    12.485   12.095   65.0    4.3   105   19.2 
2026-09-28 00:00 UT   16 16 53.5   -32 36 16    12.497   12.093   64.1    4.3   106   19.2 
2026-09-29 00:00 UT   16 17 06.4   -32 37 37    12.509   12.090   63.2    4.2   106   19.2 
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   16 17 19.7   -32 38 58    12.522   12.088   62.3    4.2   106   19.2 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   16 17 33.2   -32 40 21    12.534   12.086   61.4    4.2   106   19.2 
2026-10-02 00:00 UT   16 17 47.1   -32 41 44    12.546   12.084   60.5    4.1   106   19.2 

    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.