C/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Jul 2019	20.8	9.157 AU	8.501 AU	18h46m	+29°33'	127.6°	5.0°	168°
Perihelion	4 Aug 2020	20.7	8.880 AU	8.580 AU	18h11m	+49°17'	104.0°	6.4°	139°
Today	18 Sep 2025	23.6	13.619 AU	13.963 AU	08h34m	+59°27'	68.0°	3.9°	308°

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/2020 K2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0006590
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8802560
            i (Inclination)                 : 90.98640
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 288.43580
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.30340
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.07879
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 67.28311
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459065.61130

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 17
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-N06

            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 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. (6.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   08 34 16.6   +59 27 50    13.965   13.618   67.8    3.9   308   23.6 
2025-09-18 05:52 UT   08 34 20.6   +59 27 56    13.963   13.619   68.0    3.9   308   23.6 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   08 34 32.8   +59 28 16    13.957   13.621   68.5    3.9   307   23.6 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   08 34 48.5   +59 28 45    13.949   13.625   69.2    4.0   307   23.6 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   08 35 03.9   +59 29 16    13.941   13.629   69.9    4.0   306   23.6 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   08 35 18.8   +59 29 50    13.933   13.633   70.6    4.0   306   23.6 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   08 35 33.4   +59 30 26    13.925   13.637   71.3    4.0   305   23.6 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   08 35 47.5   +59 31 04    13.917   13.641   72.0    4.0   304   23.6 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   08 36 01.1   +59 31 44    13.908   13.645   72.8    4.0   304   23.6 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   08 36 14.4   +59 32 27    13.900   13.649   73.5    4.0   303   23.6 
2025-09-27 00:00 UT   08 36 27.2   +59 33 12    13.891   13.653   74.2    4.1   302   23.6 
2025-09-28 00:00 UT   08 36 39.5   +59 33 59    13.883   13.657   74.9    4.1   302   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.