C/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Jul 2019	20.8	9.156 AU	8.500 AU	18h46m	+29°34'	127.6°	5.0°	168°
Perihelion	3 Aug 2020	20.7	8.880 AU	8.579 AU	18h11m	+49°19'	104.1°	6.4°	140°
Today	8 Jan 2026	23.6	14.058 AU	13.297 AU	08h08m	+61°52'	139.4°	2.6°	198°

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. (6.5 + 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/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0001670
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8802290
    i (Inclination)                 : 90.98550
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 288.43660
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.29270
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.08297
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 67.27246
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459065.08590

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 07
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-07 00:00 UT   08 09 58.3   +61 52 26    13.292   14.052  139.3    2.6   201   23.6 
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   08 09 18.3   +61 52 31    13.295   14.056  139.4    2.6   199   23.6 
2026-01-08 14:17 UT   08 08 54.4   +61 52 32    13.297   14.058  139.4    2.6   198   23.6 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   08 08 38.1   +61 52 33    13.298   14.060  139.4    2.6   198   23.6 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   08 07 57.8   +61 52 31    13.302   14.064  139.4    2.6   196   23.6 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   08 07 17.5   +61 52 25    13.306   14.068  139.5    2.6   194   23.6 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   08 06 37.0   +61 52 15    13.310   14.072  139.4    2.6   192   23.6 
2026-01-13 00:00 UT   08 05 56.5   +61 52 02    13.314   14.076  139.4    2.6   190   23.6 
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   08 05 15.9   +61 51 45    13.319   14.080  139.3    2.6   189   23.6 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   08 04 35.4   +61 51 25    13.324   14.084  139.2    2.6   187   23.6 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   08 03 54.8   +61 50 60    13.329   14.088  139.1    2.6   185   23.6 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   08 03 14.2   +61 50 32    13.334   14.091  139.0    2.6   183   23.6 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   08 02 33.6   +61 49 59    13.340   14.095  138.8    2.6   181   23.6 

    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.