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Comet PanSTARRS (C/2011 L4) Orbit

Here is a movie of Comet PanSTARRS's motion from March 1-21, 2013 as seen from various vantage points in our solar system. This shows how the best view for observers in the United States will be March 8-20 but its closest approach to Earth is before that time block---on March 5th. The tic mark on Comet PanSTARRS's orbit is its perihelion point (closest point to the Sun) on March 10th. The half arrow (triangle) on the comet's orbit shows the comet's direction of travel. In all cases the comet's tail points directly away from the Sun (so a line drawn from the Sun to the comet in 3D space would go right along the tail). See below the movie for descriptions of the various views. See also my March 2nd Night Sky column for a star chart of how it will look from Bakersfield.

Descriptions of the sequences from various vantage points

1. Viewing from a small angle above the Earth's orbit plane and the Earth is on the left side of the frame. All sequences start at March 1st and end on March 21st.
2. Viewing from a small angle above the Earth's orbit plane with the Earth near the center in the foreground.
3. Viewing from a small angle above the Earth's orbit planet with the Earth on the right side of the frame.
4. Now looking from high above the Earth's orbit plane (almost straight down). Earth is center right near the bottom of the frame.
5. Now looking from a medium angle above the Earth's orbit plane (not as high as previous sequence). Earth is on the right side of the frame. Comet orbit is almost edge on. After perihelion we'll see the comet's tail almost point toward us, so it appears to shrink because of the geometry of the viewpoint.

Updates of Comet PanSTARRS's status are posted at Sky and Telescope's Updates on Comet PanSTARRS page. You'll note that the images posted Feb 15th through 28th are from the southern hemisphere. That's because Comet PanSTARRS was well below the Earth's orbit plane during that time so we couldn't see it from Bakersfield (or anywhere in the United States).

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last updated: February 28, 2013

Webpage contact: Nick Strobel