C/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Jul 2019	20.8	9.156 AU	8.501 AU	18h46m	+29°33'	127.6°	5.0°	168°
Perihelion	3 Aug 2020	20.7	8.880 AU	8.579 AU	18h11m	+49°18'	104.0°	6.4°	140°
Today	16 Nov 2025	23.6	13.849 AU	13.442 AU	08h35m	+60°47'	112.4°	3.8°	269°

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)                : 1.0003900
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8802290
    i (Inclination)                 : 90.98560
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 288.43650
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.29750
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.08208
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 67.27725
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459065.32810

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 15
    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
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   08 36 09.8   +60 45 07    13.453   13.844  111.4    3.8   270   23.6 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   08 35 54.5   +60 46 58    13.445   13.848  112.1    3.8   269   23.6 
2025-11-16 08:29 UT   08 35 49.0   +60 47 38    13.442   13.849  112.4    3.8   269   23.6 
2025-11-17 00:00 UT   08 35 38.6   +60 48 50    13.437   13.852  112.9    3.8   268   23.6 
2025-11-18 00:00 UT   08 35 22.1   +60 50 42    13.430   13.856  113.6    3.7   267   23.6 
2025-11-19 00:00 UT   08 35 04.9   +60 52 34    13.422   13.860  114.4    3.7   266   23.6 
2025-11-20 00:00 UT   08 34 47.1   +60 54 25    13.415   13.864  115.1    3.7   265   23.6 
2025-11-21 00:00 UT   08 34 28.6   +60 56 16    13.408   13.867  115.8    3.7   265   23.6 
2025-11-22 00:00 UT   08 34 09.6   +60 58 06    13.401   13.871  116.6    3.7   264   23.6 
2025-11-23 00:00 UT   08 33 49.8   +60 59 56    13.395   13.875  117.3    3.6   263   23.6 
2025-11-24 00:00 UT   08 33 29.5   +61 01 45    13.388   13.879  118.0    3.6   262   23.6 
2025-11-25 00:00 UT   08 33 08.6   +61 03 34    13.381   13.883  118.7    3.6   261   23.6 
2025-11-26 00:00 UT   08 32 47.0   +61 05 22    13.375   13.887  119.4    3.5   260   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.