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	5.723 AU	17h45m	+20°37'	93.1°	9.9°	95°
Today	23 May 2026	24.5	12.516 AU	12.910 AU	08h59m	+58°20'	65.0°	4.2°	89°

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)                : 1.0010760
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.8645250
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.62670
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 291.60370
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 44.23360
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 278.68494
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 42.68360
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459471.25610

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 22
    Reference                       : MPC194167

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   08 59 05.7   +58 25 10    12.892   12.510   65.7    4.2    90   24.5 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   08 59 11.2   +58 21 01    12.908   12.515   65.1    4.2    89   24.5 
2026-05-23 02:50 UT   08 59 11.8   +58 20 32    12.910   12.516   65.0    4.2    89   24.5 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   08 59 17.1   +58 16 53    12.924   12.520   64.4    4.2    88   24.5 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   08 59 23.5   +58 12 45    12.940   12.525   63.7    4.2    87   24.5 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   08 59 30.4   +58 08 38    12.957   12.530   63.0    4.1    87   24.5 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   08 59 37.8   +58 04 32    12.972   12.535   62.4    4.1    86   24.5 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   08 59 45.6   +58 00 27    12.988   12.540   61.7    4.1    85   24.6 
2026-05-29 00:00 UT   08 59 53.9   +57 56 23    13.004   12.545   61.1    4.1    85   24.6 
2026-05-30 00:00 UT   09 00 02.6   +57 52 20    13.020   12.550   60.4    4.0    84   24.6 
2026-05-31 00:00 UT   09 00 11.8   +57 48 18    13.035   12.555   59.8    4.0    83   24.6 
2026-06-01 00:00 UT   09 00 21.4   +57 44 16    13.050   12.560   59.1    4.0    82   24.6 
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   09 00 31.4   +57 40 16    13.066   12.565   58.5    3.9    82   24.6 

    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.