C/2017 K1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Mar 2018	19.7	7.280 AU	6.616 AU	15h04m	-15°08'	128.7°	6.1°	284°
Nearest approach	29 Apr 2018	19.6	7.285 AU	6.280 AU	14h31m	-10°55'	176.2°	0.5°	199°
Today	25 Apr 2024	24.6	14.932 AU	14.910 AU	09h03m	+43°53'	89.3°	3.9°	108°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2017 K1 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0032030
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.2795730
            i (Inclination)                 : 154.02210
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 225.74120
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 4.38870
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 221.79444
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.92084
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458195.01890

            Epoch                           : 2023 Apr 14
            Reference                       : MPC115882

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. 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. (7.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   09 03 33.5   +43 54 55    14.891   14.928   90.1    3.9   109   24.6 
2024-04-25 21:50 UT   09 03 26.0   +43 53 39    14.910   14.932   89.3    3.9   108   24.6 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   09 03 25.2   +43 53 31    14.912   14.933   89.2    3.9   108   24.6 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   09 03 17.3   +43 52 06    14.932   14.937   88.4    3.9   108   24.6 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   09 03 09.7   +43 50 40    14.952   14.942   87.5    3.9   107   24.6 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   09 03 02.5   +43 49 13    14.972   14.946   86.6    3.9   107   24.6 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   09 02 55.7   +43 47 45    14.992   14.951   85.7    3.9   106   24.6 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   09 02 49.3   +43 46 16    15.012   14.955   84.8    3.8   106   24.6 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   09 02 43.3   +43 44 46    15.033   14.960   83.9    3.8   105   24.6 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   09 02 37.6   +43 43 15    15.053   14.964   83.0    3.8   105   24.6 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   09 02 32.3   +43 41 44    15.073   14.969   82.2    3.8   105   24.6 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   09 02 27.4   +43 40 11    15.093   14.973   81.3    3.8   104   24.6 

    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.