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	30 Jul 2026	29.6	15.923 AU	16.540 AU	05h48m	-10°34'	51.1°	2.8°	236°

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
2026-07-29 00:00 UT   05 48 00.0   -10 33 05    16.548   15.914   49.9    2.8   234   29.6 
2026-07-30 00:00 UT   05 48 08.8   -10 33 59    16.544   15.919   50.6    2.8   235   29.6 
2026-07-30 21:02 UT   05 48 16.3   -10 34 47    16.540   15.923   51.1    2.8   236   29.6 
2026-07-31 00:00 UT   05 48 17.3   -10 34 54    16.540   15.924   51.2    2.8   236   29.6 
2026-08-01 00:00 UT   05 48 25.8   -10 35 52    16.536   15.929   51.9    2.9   237   29.6 
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   05 48 34.1   -10 36 51    16.531   15.935   52.5    2.9   237   29.6 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   05 48 42.2   -10 37 51    16.527   15.940   53.2    2.9   238   29.6 
2026-08-04 00:00 UT   05 48 50.2   -10 38 53    16.522   15.945   53.8    2.9   239   29.6 
2026-08-05 00:00 UT   05 48 58.0   -10 39 56    16.517   15.950   54.5    3.0   240   29.6 
2026-08-06 00:00 UT   05 49 05.6   -10 41 01    16.512   15.956   55.2    3.0   241   29.6 
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   05 49 13.1   -10 42 08    16.507   15.961   55.9    3.0   241   29.6 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   05 49 20.4   -10 43 15    16.502   15.966   56.6    3.0   242   29.6 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   05 49 27.5   -10 44 25    16.496   15.971   57.3    3.1   243   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.