C/2019 K7 (Smith)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Jun 2020	15.7	4.472 AU	3.796 AU	20h22m	+13°17'	126.2°	10.6°	227°
Nearest approach	16 Jul 2020	15.6	4.478 AU	3.647 AU	19h43m	+18°10'	140.5°	8.3°	180°
Today	16 Jan 2026	21.1	14.526 AU	13.839 AU	10h55m	+52°13'	132.8°	2.8°	247°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.4 + 5 log[∆] + 5.2 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 K7 (Smith) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9999250
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4719750
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.46490
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.04770
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 27.32230
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.18813
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 26.51159
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459017.18440

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 15
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-GJ3

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   10 55 32.8   +52 10 52    13.840   14.520  132.2    2.9   248   21.1 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   10 55 10.4   +52 13 20    13.839   14.525  132.7    2.9   247   21.1 
2026-01-16 03:12 UT   10 55 07.4   +52 13 40    13.839   14.526  132.8    2.8   247   21.1 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   10 54 47.6   +52 15 47    13.839   14.530  133.2    2.8   245   21.1 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   10 54 24.5   +52 18 12    13.838   14.536  133.7    2.8   244   21.1 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   10 54 01.0   +52 20 35    13.838   14.541  134.1    2.8   243   21.1 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   10 53 37.1   +52 22 57    13.838   14.546  134.6    2.8   241   21.1 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   10 53 12.9   +52 25 17    13.839   14.552  135.0    2.7   240   21.1 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   10 52 48.4   +52 27 34    13.840   14.557  135.4    2.7   238   21.1 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   10 52 23.5   +52 29 50    13.840   14.562  135.8    2.7   237   21.1 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   10 51 58.2   +52 32 03    13.842   14.568  136.1    2.7   235   21.1 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   10 51 32.7   +52 34 15    13.843   14.573  136.5    2.7   234   21.1 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   10 51 06.8   +52 36 24    13.844   14.578  136.8    2.7   232   21.1 

    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.