C/2019 K7 (Smith)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Jun 2020	15.7	4.476 AU	3.792 AU	20h21m	+13°21'	126.8°	10.5°	227°
Nearest approach	16 Jul 2020	15.6	4.482 AU	3.651 AU	19h43m	+18°06'	140.5°	8.3°	180°
Today	21 Dec 2024	20.5	12.411 AU	12.012 AU	11h39m	+54°40'	111.8°	4.2°	280°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2019 K7 (Smith) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0006590
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4760120
            i (Inclination)                 : 103.48930
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.02400
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 27.38310
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.13462
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 26.56737
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459017.91410

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 20
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-GJ3

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (6.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.34 + 5 log[∆] + 5.25 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2024-12-21 00:00 UT   11 39 58.1   +54 37 45    12.015   12.407  111.3    4.2   281   20.5 
2024-12-21 16:37 UT   11 39 50.7   +54 40 09    12.012   12.411  111.8    4.2   280   20.5 
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   11 39 47.4   +54 41 13    12.010   12.412  112.0    4.2   280   20.5 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   11 39 36.0   +54 44 41    12.006   12.418  112.6    4.2   279   20.5 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   11 39 24.0   +54 48 11    12.001   12.423  113.3    4.2   278   20.5 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   11 39 11.4   +54 51 42    11.997   12.429  113.9    4.1   277   20.5 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   11 38 58.3   +54 55 13    11.993   12.434  114.6    4.1   276   20.5 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   11 38 44.5   +54 58 44    11.988   12.440  115.2    4.1   275   20.5 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   11 38 30.1   +55 02 16    11.984   12.445  115.9    4.1   274   20.5 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   11 38 15.1   +55 05 49    11.981   12.451  116.5    4.1   273   20.5 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   11 37 59.6   +55 09 22    11.977   12.456  117.1    4.0   272   20.5 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   11 37 43.4   +55 12 55    11.973   12.462  117.7    4.0   271   20.5 

    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.