C/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Jul 2019	20.8	9.155 AU	8.500 AU	18h46m	+29°34'	127.6°	5.0°	168°
Perihelion	3 Aug 2020	20.7	8.880 AU	8.577 AU	18h11m	+49°19'	104.1°	6.4°	140°
Today	20 Mar 2026	23.8	14.340 AU	14.101 AU	07h31m	+59°31'	101.9°	3.9°	110°

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)                : 1.0005070
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8796330
    i (Inclination)                 : 90.99180
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 288.44280
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.28580
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.07494
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 67.26530
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459064.84450

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 19
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   07 32 11.6   +59 36 31    14.078   14.335  103.0    3.9   111   23.8 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   07 31 57.2   +59 33 07    14.095   14.339  102.2    3.9   111   23.8 
2026-03-20 08:00 UT   07 31 52.6   +59 31 59    14.101   14.340  101.9    3.9   110   23.8 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   07 31 43.5   +59 29 42    14.113   14.343  101.4    3.9   110   23.8 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   07 31 30.3   +59 26 16    14.130   14.347  100.6    3.9   109   23.8 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   07 31 17.7   +59 22 48    14.147   14.351   99.8    3.9   109   23.8 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   07 31 05.8   +59 19 20    14.164   14.355   99.0    3.9   108   23.8 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   07 30 54.5   +59 15 51    14.182   14.359   98.2    3.9   107   23.8 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   07 30 43.7   +59 12 21    14.199   14.363   97.4    3.9   107   23.8 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   07 30 33.6   +59 08 51    14.217   14.367   96.6    4.0   106   23.8 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   07 30 24.0   +59 05 20    14.234   14.371   95.8    4.0   105   23.8 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   07 30 15.0   +59 01 48    14.252   14.375   95.1    4.0   105   23.8 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   07 30 06.7   +58 58 15    14.270   14.379   94.3    4.0   104   23.8 

    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.