C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.7	6.427 AU	5.418 AU	18h25m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	24 Oct 2019	20.2	6.382 AU	6.724 AU	18h27m	-24°17'	65.9°	8.2°	88°
Today	10 Apr 2026	25.8	15.099 AU	15.955 AU	00h46m	+37°33'	30.3°	1.9°	346°

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 K7 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9318280
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3820750
    i (Inclination)                 : 32.04420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.13380
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.00250
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.44045
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.05967
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458780.88330
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 905.80

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 09
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   00 46 06.3   +37 30 17    15.944   15.091   30.6    1.9   349   25.8 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   00 46 27.5   +37 32 02    15.951   15.096   30.4    1.9   347   25.8 
2026-04-10 15:06 UT   00 46 40.7   +37 33 09    15.955   15.099   30.3    1.9   346   25.8 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   00 46 48.6   +37 33 49    15.957   15.100   30.2    1.9   345   25.8 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   00 47 09.6   +37 35 37    15.963   15.105   30.1    1.9   343   25.8 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   00 47 30.6   +37 37 27    15.969   15.109   29.9    1.9   342   25.8 
2026-04-14 00:00 UT   00 47 51.6   +37 39 18    15.975   15.114   29.8    1.9   340   25.8 
2026-04-15 00:00 UT   00 48 12.5   +37 41 11    15.980   15.118   29.8    1.9   338   25.8 
2026-04-16 00:00 UT   00 48 33.4   +37 43 05    15.986   15.123   29.7    1.9   336   25.8 
2026-04-17 00:00 UT   00 48 54.2   +37 45 01    15.991   15.127   29.7    1.9   335   25.8 
2026-04-18 00:00 UT   00 49 14.9   +37 46 58    15.995   15.132   29.7    1.9   333   25.8 
2026-04-19 00:00 UT   00 49 35.6   +37 48 56    16.000   15.136   29.7    1.9   331   25.8 
2026-04-20 00:00 UT   00 49 56.2   +37 50 56    16.004   15.141   29.7    1.9   329   25.8 

    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.