Comet PANSTARRS imaged about 2 days before perihelion, on March 3rd, 2021. Credit: NASA/ZTF
Comet PANSTARRS is a non-periodic comet in our solar system. When it reached perihelion, it reached peak brightness of about 14. It is a hyperbolic comet, meaning it is actually not bound to the Sun and will never return to the solar system. It's formal designation is C/2020 N1 (PANSTARRS). It was discovered by the PANSTARRS telescope in 2020.
Physical characteristics and observing[]
Comet PANSTARRS fits the category of a hyperbolic comet, meaning it will never return to the Solar System. Because it reached maximum brightness of 14, it was never visible to the naked eye, nor binoculars. Moderately powerful telescopes are needed to see the comet.
As of now, no rotational light curves of the nucleus have been recorded from photometric observations. The body's shape, spin, and rotational period remains unknown.