C/2019 K6 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 May 2020	19.8	3.920 AU	2.915 AU	14h23m	-18°51'	175.5°	1.2°	34°
Perihelion	17 May 2020	19.8	3.918 AU	2.985 AU	13h47m	-18°43'	153.8°	6.6°	96°
Today	10 Sep 2026	29.6	16.144 AU	16.251 AU	05h51m	-11°33'	82.1°	3.5°	263°

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)                : 0.9952340
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9176780
    i (Inclination)                 : 132.41020
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.93980
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 187.38390
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 37.94479
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.44491
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458987.12730
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 23567.42

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194161

    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
2026-09-09 00:00 UT   05 51 28.0   -11 30 01    16.267   16.134   80.6    3.5   262   29.6 
2026-09-10 00:00 UT   05 51 28.3   -11 31 44    16.258   16.139   81.4    3.5   263   29.6 
2026-09-10 21:40 UT   05 51 28.3   -11 33 17    16.251   16.144   82.1    3.5   263   29.6 
2026-09-11 00:00 UT   05 51 28.3   -11 33 27    16.250   16.145   82.2    3.5   263   29.6 
2026-09-12 00:00 UT   05 51 28.0   -11 35 11    16.241   16.150   83.0    3.5   264   29.6 
2026-09-13 00:00 UT   05 51 27.6   -11 36 55    16.232   16.155   83.8    3.6   265   29.6 
2026-09-14 00:00 UT   05 51 26.8   -11 38 39    16.223   16.160   84.6    3.6   265   29.6 
2026-09-15 00:00 UT   05 51 25.8   -11 40 24    16.214   16.165   85.4    3.6   266   29.6 
2026-09-16 00:00 UT   05 51 24.6   -11 42 10    16.206   16.171   86.2    3.6   266   29.6 
2026-09-17 00:00 UT   05 51 23.1   -11 43 56    16.197   16.176   87.0    3.6   267   29.6 
2026-09-18 00:00 UT   05 51 21.3   -11 45 42    16.188   16.181   87.8    3.6   267   29.6 
2026-09-19 00:00 UT   05 51 19.3   -11 47 28    16.179   16.186   88.6    3.6   268   29.6 
2026-09-20 00:00 UT   05 51 17.0   -11 49 15    16.170   16.192   89.4    3.6   269   29.6 

    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.