C/2020 K5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	18 May 2021	13.9	1.558 AU	1.578 AU	01h44m	-45°06'	70.1°	37.6°	209°
Perihelion	3 Jun 2021	13.9	1.543 AU	1.617 AU	03h08m	-41°11'	67.3°	37.4°	204°
Today	1 Oct 2026	29.0	15.764 AU	15.834 AU	07h23m	+52°27'	84.2°	3.6°	283°

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)                : 1.0005890
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5425610
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.08520
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 86.15270
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 249.64210
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 132.53140
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -59.71776
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459368.91530

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194167

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-09-30 00:00 UT   07 23 45.6   +52 24 46    15.846   15.756   83.0    3.6   284   29.0 
2026-10-01 00:00 UT   07 23 51.6   +52 26 52    15.837   15.762   83.8    3.6   283   29.0 
2026-10-01 10:16 UT   07 23 54.0   +52 27 47    15.834   15.764   84.2    3.6   283   29.0 
2026-10-02 00:00 UT   07 23 57.2   +52 28 60    15.828   15.768   84.7    3.6   283   29.0 
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   07 24 02.4   +52 31 08    15.819   15.774   85.5    3.6   282   29.0 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   07 24 07.2   +52 33 17    15.811   15.779   86.4    3.6   282   29.0 
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   07 24 11.6   +52 35 27    15.802   15.785   87.2    3.6   281   29.0 
2026-10-06 00:00 UT   07 24 15.6   +52 37 37    15.793   15.791   88.1    3.6   281   29.0 
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   07 24 19.2   +52 39 49    15.784   15.797   88.9    3.6   280   29.0 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   07 24 22.4   +52 42 02    15.775   15.803   89.8    3.6   280   29.0 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   07 24 25.1   +52 44 15    15.766   15.808   90.6    3.6   279   29.0 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   07 24 27.5   +52 46 29    15.757   15.814   91.5    3.6   279   29.0 
2026-10-11 00:00 UT   07 24 29.4   +52 48 44    15.748   15.820   92.3    3.6   278   29.0 

    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.