C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.8	6.432 AU	5.424 AU	18h26m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	25 Oct 2019	20.2	6.387 AU	6.738 AU	18h27m	-24°15'	65.3°	8.1°	88°
Today	16 Sep 2025	25.2	14.173 AU	13.445 AU	00h33m	+40°50'	134.9°	2.9°	200°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9322950
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3869900
            i (Inclination)                 : 32.04420
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.13520
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.05960
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.49026
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.02938
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458781.51770
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 916.25

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 15
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-A50

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. 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. (8.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-09-16 00:00 UT   00 33 42.5   +40 50 42    13.448   14.169  134.3    2.9   201   25.2 
2025-09-16 21:12 UT   00 33 29.0   +40 50 27    13.445   14.173  134.9    2.9   200   25.2 
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   00 33 27.2   +40 50 25    13.445   14.174  135.0    2.9   200   25.2 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   00 33 11.7   +40 50 05    13.442   14.178  135.6    2.8   199   25.2 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   00 32 56.1   +40 49 42    13.440   14.183  136.2    2.8   197   25.2 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   00 32 40.5   +40 49 16    13.438   14.187  136.8    2.8   196   25.2 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   00 32 24.7   +40 48 47    13.436   14.192  137.4    2.7   195   25.2 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   00 32 08.9   +40 48 14    13.435   14.196  137.9    2.7   194   25.2 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   00 31 53.1   +40 47 39    13.433   14.201  138.5    2.7   192   25.2 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   00 31 37.2   +40 46 60    13.432   14.205  139.0    2.7   191   25.2 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   00 31 21.2   +40 46 18    13.431   14.210  139.6    2.6   190   25.2 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   00 31 05.2   +40 45 33    13.430   14.214  140.1    2.6   188   25.2 

    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.