C/2019 K6 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 May 2020	19.8	3.920 AU	2.914 AU	14h23m	-18°48'	175.5°	1.1°	34°
Perihelion	18 May 2020	19.8	3.917 AU	2.988 AU	13h46m	-18°40'	153.1°	6.7°	97°
Today	22 Dec 2025	28.9	14.751 AU	13.979 AU	05h46m	-15°56'	140.4°	2.4°	6°

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. (11.5 + 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/2019 K6 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9955050
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9169810
    i (Inclination)                 : 132.39670
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.96480
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 187.40530
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 37.95651
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.46183
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458987.65670
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 25723.65

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-12-21 00:00 UT   05 47 16.4   -15 57 06    13.967   14.741  140.6    2.4     3   28.9 
2025-12-22 00:00 UT   05 46 55.7   -15 56 34    13.974   14.746  140.5    2.4     5   28.9 
2025-12-22 21:23 UT   05 46 37.2   -15 56 04    13.979   14.751  140.4    2.4     6   28.9 
2025-12-23 00:00 UT   05 46 35.0   -15 55 60    13.980   14.752  140.4    2.4     6   28.9 
2025-12-24 00:00 UT   05 46 14.3   -15 55 23    13.987   14.757  140.3    2.4     8   28.9 
2025-12-25 00:00 UT   05 45 53.8   -15 54 42    13.994   14.763  140.1    2.4    10   28.9 
2025-12-26 00:00 UT   05 45 33.2   -15 53 59    14.001   14.768  139.9    2.5    12   28.9 
2025-12-27 00:00 UT   05 45 12.8   -15 53 13    14.009   14.773  139.7    2.5    13   28.9 
2025-12-28 00:00 UT   05 44 52.4   -15 52 24    14.016   14.779  139.5    2.5    15   28.9 
2025-12-29 00:00 UT   05 44 32.1   -15 51 32    14.024   14.784  139.3    2.5    17   28.9 
2025-12-30 00:00 UT   05 44 11.8   -15 50 37    14.033   14.789  139.0    2.5    18   28.9 
2025-12-31 00:00 UT   05 43 51.7   -15 49 39    14.041   14.795  138.7    2.5    20   28.9 
2026-01-01 00:00 UT   05 43 31.7   -15 48 39    14.050   14.800  138.4    2.5    21   28.9 

    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.