C/2020 K6 (Rankin)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2021	19.2	5.888 AU	5.098 AU	18h37m	+19°25'	137.5°	6.7°	178°
Perihelion	13 Sep 2021	19.5	5.865 AU	5.724 AU	17h45m	+20°37'	93.1°	9.9°	95°
Today	8 May 2026	24.5	12.445 AU	12.671 AU	08h58m	+59°19'	74.8°	4.5°	98°

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. (8.0 + 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 K6 (Rankin) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0011240
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.8645870
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.62660
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 291.60390
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 44.23570
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 278.68432
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 42.68561
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459471.30560

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 08
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   08 58 49.0   +59 28 19    12.636   12.435   76.2    4.5   100   24.5 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   08 58 46.1   +59 24 05    12.653   12.440   75.5    4.5    99   24.5 
2026-05-08 23:48 UT   08 58 43.8   +59 19 53    12.671   12.445   74.8    4.5    98   24.5 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   08 58 43.7   +59 19 51    12.671   12.445   74.8    4.5    98   24.5 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   08 58 42.0   +59 15 37    12.688   12.450   74.1    4.5    98   24.5 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   08 58 40.9   +59 11 23    12.706   12.455   73.4    4.5    97   24.5 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   08 58 40.3   +59 07 09    12.723   12.460   72.7    4.4    96   24.5 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   08 58 40.4   +59 02 55    12.740   12.465   72.0    4.4    96   24.5 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   08 58 41.0   +58 58 42    12.757   12.470   71.3    4.4    95   24.5 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   08 58 42.2   +58 54 29    12.774   12.475   70.6    4.4    94   24.5 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   08 58 43.9   +58 50 16    12.791   12.480   69.9    4.4    94   24.5 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   08 58 46.2   +58 46 04    12.808   12.485   69.2    4.3    93   24.5 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   08 58 49.1   +58 41 52    12.825   12.490   68.5    4.3    92   24.5 

    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.