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°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	18 Dec 2025	23.6	13.976 AU	13.281 AU	08h22m	+61°39'	133.4°	2.9°	233°

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)                : 1.0002510
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8802260
    i (Inclination)                 : 90.98550
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 288.43660
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 67.29450
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.08276
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 67.27425
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459065.17810

    Epoch                           : 2025 Dec 17
    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
2025-12-17 00:00 UT   08 23 00.6   +61 37 50    13.285   13.969  132.6    3.0   235   23.6 
2025-12-18 00:00 UT   08 22 26.9   +61 39 01    13.283   13.973  133.1    2.9   234   23.6 
2025-12-18 16:32 UT   08 22 03.5   +61 39 49    13.281   13.976  133.4    2.9   233   23.6 
2025-12-19 00:00 UT   08 21 52.8   +61 40 10    13.281   13.977  133.6    2.9   232   23.6 
2025-12-20 00:00 UT   08 21 18.3   +61 41 16    13.279   13.981  134.0    2.9   231   23.6 
2025-12-21 00:00 UT   08 20 43.3   +61 42 19    13.278   13.985  134.5    2.9   230   23.6 
2025-12-22 00:00 UT   08 20 07.9   +61 43 20    13.277   13.989  134.9    2.9   228   23.6 
2025-12-23 00:00 UT   08 19 32.2   +61 44 17    13.276   13.993  135.4    2.8   227   23.6 
2025-12-24 00:00 UT   08 18 56.0   +61 45 12    13.275   13.997  135.8    2.8   225   23.6 
2025-12-25 00:00 UT   08 18 19.5   +61 46 04    13.275   14.001  136.1    2.8   223   23.6 
2025-12-26 00:00 UT   08 17 42.6   +61 46 53    13.275   14.005  136.5    2.8   222   23.6 
2025-12-27 00:00 UT   08 17 05.4   +61 47 39    13.275   14.009  136.9    2.8   220   23.6 
2025-12-28 00:00 UT   08 16 27.9   +61 48 22    13.275   14.013  137.2    2.7   219   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.