C/2017 K5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	26 Mar 2020	16.5	7.684 AU	7.836 AU	19h16m	-14°27'	77.6°	7.3°	264°
Nearest approach	2 Jul 2020	16.2	7.708 AU	6.692 AU	18h53m	-21°03'	177.6°	0.3°	215°
Today	26 Apr 2024	19.2	11.734 AU	11.711 AU	00h24m	-73°29'	88.8°	4.9°	207°

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 K5 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0038650
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.6842280
            i (Inclination)                 : 82.27060
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 102.43620
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 172.02520
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 101.35678
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.90188
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458935.22300

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 25
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

            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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (5.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.21 + 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   00 24 03.6   -73 29 11    11.711   11.733   88.8    4.9   207   19.2 
2024-04-26 03:33 UT   00 24 15.4   -73 29 29    11.711   11.734   88.8    4.9   207   19.2 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   00 25 23.6   -73 31 16    11.708   11.737   89.2    4.9   207   19.2 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   00 26 43.4   -73 33 25    11.704   11.742   89.6    4.9   208   19.2 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   00 28 03.0   -73 35 35    11.701   11.746   90.1    4.9   208   19.2 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   00 29 22.4   -73 37 49    11.698   11.750   90.5    4.9   209   19.2 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   00 30 41.7   -73 40 05    11.695   11.754   90.9    4.9   210   19.3 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   00 32 00.8   -73 42 25    11.691   11.758   91.3    4.9   210   19.3 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   00 33 19.6   -73 44 46    11.688   11.762   91.7    4.9   211   19.3 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   00 34 38.3   -73 47 11    11.685   11.767   92.2    4.9   211   19.3 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   00 35 56.8   -73 49 38    11.682   11.771   92.6    4.9   212   19.3 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   00 37 15.0   -73 52 08    11.679   11.775   93.0    4.9   212   19.3 

    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.