C/2019 K7 (Smith)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Jun 2020	15.7	4.478 AU	3.792 AU	20h21m	+13°23'	127.0°	10.4°	226°
Nearest approach	16 Jul 2020	15.6	4.484 AU	3.652 AU	19h43m	+18°04'	140.6°	8.3°	180°
Today	9 May 2024	20.1	11.146 AU	11.127 AU	11h07m	+61°09'	88.4°	5.2°	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.)

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

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0009040
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4775790
            i (Inclination)                 : 103.50770
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.00240
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 27.40260
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.09819
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 26.58399
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459018.10080

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   11 07 24.0   +61 10 40    11.124   11.145   88.5    5.2   125   20.1 
2024-05-09 03:59 UT   11 07 19.6   +61 09 58    11.127   11.146   88.4    5.2   125   20.1 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   11 06 57.4   +61 06 23    11.141   11.150   87.9    5.2   124   20.1 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   11 06 31.5   +61 02 02    11.158   11.156   87.3    5.2   123   20.1 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   11 06 06.5   +60 57 40    11.175   11.162   86.6    5.2   122   20.1 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   11 05 42.2   +60 53 14    11.192   11.167   86.0    5.2   122   20.1 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   11 05 18.8   +60 48 47    11.209   11.173   85.4    5.2   121   20.1 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   11 04 56.2   +60 44 18    11.225   11.179   84.7    5.2   120   20.1 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   11 04 34.3   +60 39 46    11.242   11.184   84.1    5.2   119   20.1 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   11 04 13.3   +60 35 13    11.259   11.190   83.5    5.2   118   20.1 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   11 03 53.0   +60 30 37    11.276   11.195   82.8    5.1   118   20.1 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   11 03 33.6   +60 26 00    11.293   11.201   82.2    5.1   117   20.1 

    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.