C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.8	6.434 AU	5.425 AU	18h26m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	25 Oct 2019	20.2	6.388 AU	6.743 AU	18h28m	-24°14'	65.1°	8.1°	88°
Today	4 Jul 2025	25.1	13.834 AU	14.016 AU	00h41m	+39°03'	77.6°	4.1°	250°

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)                : 0.9325040
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3883730
            i (Inclination)                 : 32.04440
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.13220
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.08140
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.50575
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.01783
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458781.80060
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 920.81

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 03
            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
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   00 41 58.7   +39 03 46    14.016   13.834   77.6    4.1   250   25.1 
2025-07-04 00:18 UT   00 41 58.7   +39 03 48    14.016   13.834   77.6    4.1   250   25.1 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   00 42 03.1   +39 06 28    14.006   13.839   78.4    4.1   250   25.1 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   00 42 07.1   +39 09 09    13.997   13.843   79.2    4.1   249   25.1 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   00 42 10.9   +39 11 49    13.988   13.848   80.0    4.1   249   25.1 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   00 42 14.3   +39 14 27    13.979   13.852   80.8    4.2   248   25.1 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   00 42 17.4   +39 17 04    13.969   13.857   81.5    4.2   248   25.1 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   00 42 20.1   +39 19 40    13.960   13.861   82.3    4.2   247   25.1 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   00 42 22.6   +39 22 14    13.951   13.866   83.1    4.2   247   25.1 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   00 42 24.7   +39 24 47    13.941   13.870   83.9    4.2   246   25.1 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   00 42 26.5   +39 27 18    13.932   13.875   84.7    4.2   246   25.1 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   00 42 27.9   +39 29 48    13.922   13.879   85.5    4.2   245   25.1 

    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.