C/2020 K5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 May 2021	13.9	1.557 AU	1.571 AU	01h44m	-45°13'	70.4°	37.7°	210°
Perihelion	4 Jun 2021	13.9	1.541 AU	1.611 AU	03h10m	-41°14'	67.5°	37.5°	204°
Today	16 Sep 2025	28.0	13.471 AU	13.747 AU	07h13m	+49°26'	72.1°	4.1°	288°

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 K5 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0007520
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5411800
            i (Inclination)                 : 67.06780
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 86.14130
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 249.64410
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 132.54361
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -59.70644
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459369.56930

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 15
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-R75

            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. (11.00 + 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
2025-09-16 00:00 UT   07 13 57.9   +49 26 32    13.748   13.470   71.9    4.1   288   28.0 
2025-09-16 03:04 UT   07 13 59.4   +49 26 48    13.747   13.471   72.1    4.1   288   28.0 
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   07 14 09.3   +49 28 38    13.739   13.477   72.8    4.1   287   28.0 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   07 14 20.4   +49 30 46    13.731   13.483   73.6    4.1   287   28.0 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   07 14 31.1   +49 32 54    13.723   13.489   74.5    4.1   286   28.0 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   07 14 41.4   +49 35 04    13.715   13.495   75.3    4.1   286   28.0 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   07 14 51.3   +49 37 15    13.706   13.502   76.2    4.1   285   28.0 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   07 15 00.8   +49 39 28    13.698   13.508   77.0    4.2   285   28.0 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   07 15 09.9   +49 41 42    13.689   13.514   77.9    4.2   285   28.0 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   07 15 18.6   +49 43 57    13.680   13.520   78.7    4.2   284   28.0 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   07 15 26.9   +49 46 13    13.672   13.527   79.6    4.2   284   28.0 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   07 15 34.7   +49 48 30    13.663   13.533   80.4    4.2   283   28.0 

    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.