C/2017 K1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	12 Mar 2018	19.7	7.261 AU	6.666 AU	15h06m	-15°28'	123.5°	6.6°	285°
Nearest approach	29 Apr 2018	19.6	7.267 AU	6.262 AU	14h31m	-10°53'	176.2°	0.5°	201°
Today	18 Mar 2026	25.8	18.033 AU	17.590 AU	08h16m	+46°05'	114.9°	2.9°	117°

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. (7.0 + 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/2017 K1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0000780
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.2609960
    i (Inclination)                 : 154.02730
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 225.69230
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 4.10540
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 222.00032
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.79669
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458190.42680

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   08 17 24.1   +46 06 57    17.558   18.025  116.5    2.8   118   25.8 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   08 17 08.9   +46 06 12    17.577   18.029  115.6    2.9   118   25.8 
2026-03-18 17:41 UT   08 16 57.9   +46 05 37    17.590   18.033  114.9    2.9   117   25.8 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   08 16 54.1   +46 05 25    17.595   18.034  114.7    2.9   117   25.8 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   08 16 39.5   +46 04 36    17.613   18.038  113.8    2.9   117   25.8 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   08 16 25.3   +46 03 47    17.632   18.043  112.9    2.9   116   25.8 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   08 16 11.4   +46 02 55    17.650   18.047  112.0    2.9   115   25.8 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   08 15 57.8   +46 02 03    17.669   18.051  111.1    3.0   115   25.8 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   08 15 44.5   +46 01 09    17.688   18.056  110.2    3.0   114   25.8 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   08 15 31.5   +46 00 13    17.707   18.060  109.2    3.0   114   25.8 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   08 15 18.9   +45 59 17    17.726   18.065  108.3    3.0   113   25.8 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   08 15 06.6   +45 58 19    17.745   18.069  107.4    3.0   113   25.8 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   08 14 54.6   +45 57 20    17.764   18.074  106.5    3.0   112   25.8 

    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.