C/2020 K5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 May 2021	13.9	1.557 AU	1.572 AU	01h44m	-45°12'	70.3°	37.7°	210°
Perihelion	3 Jun 2021	13.9	1.541 AU	1.612 AU	03h10m	-41°14'	67.5°	37.4°	204°
Today	19 Oct 2025	28.0	13.681 AU	13.453 AU	07h16m	+50°47'	101.1°	4.1°	272°

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. (11.0 + 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 K5 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0007270
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5413870
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.06900
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 86.14200
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 249.64450
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 132.54350
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -59.70756
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459369.48180

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 18
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-R75

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-18 00:00 UT   07 16 35.9   +50 42 55    13.468   13.670   99.6    4.1   273   28.0 
2025-10-19 00:00 UT   07 16 33.3   +50 45 32    13.459   13.676  100.5    4.1   273   28.0 
2025-10-19 18:18 UT   07 16 31.0   +50 47 31    13.453   13.681  101.1    4.1   272   28.0 
2025-10-20 00:00 UT   07 16 30.3   +50 48 09    13.451   13.682  101.3    4.1   272   28.0 
2025-10-21 00:00 UT   07 16 26.7   +50 50 46    13.442   13.688  102.2    4.1   272   28.0 
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   07 16 22.7   +50 53 24    13.434   13.695  103.1    4.1   271   28.0 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   07 16 18.2   +50 56 02    13.426   13.701  104.0    4.0   271   28.0 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   07 16 13.2   +50 58 40    13.418   13.707  104.9    4.0   270   28.0 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   07 16 07.8   +51 01 19    13.409   13.713  105.7    4.0   270   28.0 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   07 16 01.8   +51 03 58    13.401   13.719  106.6    4.0   269   28.0 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   07 15 55.3   +51 06 36    13.393   13.726  107.5    4.0   269   28.0 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   07 15 48.4   +51 09 15    13.385   13.732  108.4    3.9   268   28.0 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   07 15 41.0   +51 11 54    13.378   13.738  109.3    3.9   267   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.