C/2019 K7 (Smith)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Jun 2020	15.7	4.477 AU	3.792 AU	20h21m	+13°22'	127.0°	10.4°	226°
Nearest approach	16 Jul 2020	15.6	4.483 AU	3.651 AU	19h43m	+18°05'	140.6°	8.3°	180°
Today	27 Jul 2024	20.4	11.590 AU	12.261 AU	11h05m	+55°03'	46.8°	3.7°	56°

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)                : 1.0008250
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4770720
            i (Inclination)                 : 103.50150
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.01010
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 27.39640
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.11078
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 26.57875
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459018.04380

            Epoch                           : 2024 Jul 25
            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 9.33 + 5 log[∆] + 5.26 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
2024-07-27 00:00 UT   11 05 53.4   +55 03 50    12.259   11.589   46.8    3.7    56   20.4 
2024-07-27 04:38 UT   11 05 56.7   +55 03 04    12.261   11.590   46.8    3.7    56   20.4 
2024-07-28 00:00 UT   11 06 10.4   +54 59 52    12.269   11.594   46.6    3.6    55   20.4 
2024-07-29 00:00 UT   11 06 27.8   +54 55 57    12.278   11.600   46.3    3.6    54   20.4 
2024-07-30 00:00 UT   11 06 45.3   +54 52 03    12.287   11.606   46.1    3.6    53   20.4 
2024-07-31 00:00 UT   11 07 03.1   +54 48 12    12.295   11.611   45.8    3.6    52   20.4 
2024-08-01 00:00 UT   11 07 21.2   +54 44 24    12.304   11.617   45.6    3.6    51   20.4 
2024-08-02 00:00 UT   11 07 39.4   +54 40 37    12.312   11.622   45.4    3.6    49   20.4 
2024-08-03 00:00 UT   11 07 57.9   +54 36 53    12.320   11.628   45.2    3.5    48   20.4 
2024-08-04 00:00 UT   11 08 16.6   +54 33 11    12.328   11.634   45.0    3.5    47   20.4 
2024-08-05 00:00 UT   11 08 35.5   +54 29 32    12.336   11.639   44.8    3.5    46   20.4 
2024-08-06 00:00 UT   11 08 54.6   +54 25 55    12.344   11.645   44.7    3.5    45   20.4 

    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.