C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.8	6.431 AU	5.422 AU	18h26m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	24 Oct 2019	20.2	6.386 AU	6.734 AU	18h27m	-24°16'	65.5°	8.1°	88°
Today	6 Nov 2025	25.3	14.401 AU	13.620 AU	00h21m	+39°37'	140.7°	2.5°	117°

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)                : 0.9321620
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3857840
    i (Inclination)                 : 32.04420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.13550
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.04430
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.47759
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.03750
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458781.33910
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 913.30

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 05
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-A50

    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
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   00 21 19.9   +39 40 26    13.607   14.395  141.4    2.5   119   25.3 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   00 21 08.6   +39 38 08    13.616   14.399  140.9    2.5   117   25.3 
2025-11-06 09:12 UT   00 21 04.4   +39 37 15    13.620   14.401  140.7    2.5   117   25.3 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   00 20 57.6   +39 35 49    13.626   14.404  140.4    2.5   116   25.3 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   00 20 46.9   +39 33 29    13.636   14.408  139.9    2.5   114   25.3 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   00 20 36.4   +39 31 08    13.647   14.413  139.3    2.6   113   25.3 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   00 20 26.2   +39 28 46    13.657   14.417  138.8    2.6   111   25.3 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   00 20 16.2   +39 26 22    13.668   14.422  138.2    2.6   110   25.3 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   00 20 06.5   +39 23 59    13.679   14.426  137.7    2.6   109   25.3 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   00 19 57.1   +39 21 34    13.690   14.431  137.1    2.7   107   25.3 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   00 19 48.0   +39 19 08    13.702   14.435  136.5    2.7   106   25.3 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   00 19 39.1   +39 16 42    13.713   14.440  135.8    2.7   105   25.3 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   00 19 30.5   +39 14 15    13.725   14.444  135.2    2.8   104   25.3 

    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.