Observation details: comet C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
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Daily motion of C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
90004955 C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) will remain visible until September 3, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) visibility on 2026-08-18
90004955 C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) Visible from sunset until early morning
C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 21% illuminated  | 09:49 | -13° |
| C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) transit | 17:54 | 69° |
| Sunset | 17:55 | 69° |
| Civil sunset | 18:24 | 68° |
| Twilight start | 18:57 | 64° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 19:32 | 60° |
| Moonset | 20:26 | 50° |
| C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) set | 00:44 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 02:51 | -22° |
| C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) rise | 11:02 |
Track C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) Position Throughout the Night
← 18 August 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) changing position in the night sky.
C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) Description
This comet is designated 90004955 C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS), hyperbolic comet. It is currently 2.371 AU (354,707,023 km) from Earth, and is located in the constellation Hercules.Current position in the Solar System: C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
| Date | Tue, 18 August 2026 |
| Distance from Earth | 2.37286 AU (354,974,803km) |
| Elongation | 96° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 17.7 |
Finder Chart for C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
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| Object name | C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS) coordinates | 16.53731, 16.187 |
| Center coordinates | 16.53731, 16.187 |
Annual motion of C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
| Date | Tue, 18 August 2026 |
| Twilight start | 19:28 |
| Twilight end | 02:44 |
| Twilight duration | 7h 17m |
| Rise | 11:01 |
| Set | 00:39 |
| Elevation at transit | 69° |
| Transit time | 17:50 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 16h 32m 58s", Dec: 15° 53' 52s |
| Magnitude | 18 |
| Constellation | Hercules |
The graph summarizes the object’s annual visibility, daily observing windows and transit times.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of 90004955 C/2026 A3 (PANSTARRS)
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 16.53731° |
| Declination | 16.187° |
| Magnitude | 17.7 |
| Constellation | Hercules |
| Elevation | -28.4° |
| Azimuth | 35.7° |
Acknowledgments
Orbital and small-body data are provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). These resources support accurate positions, orbits and physical characteristics.