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°50'	175.5°	1.2°	34°
Perihelion	17 May 2020	19.8	3.917 AU	2.986 AU	13h47m	-18°42'	153.5°	6.6°	96°
Today	7 May 2026	29.4	15.479 AU	16.142 AU	05h32m	-11°04'	47.5°	2.8°	125°

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)                : 0.9953250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.9172120
    i (Inclination)                 : 132.40440
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.95030
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 187.39150
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 37.95067
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.45100
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458987.33620
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 24254.55

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-06 00:00 UT   05 32 28.6   -11 07 26    16.118   15.469   48.6    2.8   124   29.4 
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   05 32 38.0   -11 05 43    16.132   15.475   47.9    2.8   125   29.4 
2026-05-07 18:00 UT   05 32 45.2   -11 04 27    16.142   15.479   47.5    2.8   125   29.4 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   05 32 47.6   -11 04 01    16.146   15.480   47.3    2.7   126   29.4 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   05 32 57.2   -11 02 22    16.159   15.485   46.7    2.7   127   29.4 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   05 33 07.1   -11 00 44    16.173   15.491   46.1    2.7   128   29.4 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   05 33 17.0   -10 59 08    16.186   15.496   45.5    2.7   129   29.4 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   05 33 27.0   -10 57 33    16.199   15.501   45.0    2.6   130   29.5 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   05 33 37.2   -10 56 01    16.212   15.507   44.4    2.6   131   29.5 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   05 33 47.5   -10 54 30    16.224   15.512   43.8    2.6   132   29.5 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   05 33 57.9   -10 53 01    16.237   15.517   43.3    2.6   133   29.5 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   05 34 08.4   -10 51 34    16.249   15.522   42.8    2.5   134   29.5 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   05 34 19.0   -10 50 09    16.261   15.528   42.2    2.5   135   29.5 

    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.