C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.8	6.429 AU	5.421 AU	18h25m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	24 Oct 2019	20.2	6.384 AU	6.729 AU	18h27m	-24°17'	65.7°	8.2°	88°
Today	21 Jan 2026	25.5	14.746 AU	14.864 AU	00h22m	+36°57'	81.2°	3.8°	57°

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)                : 0.9319940
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3840150
    i (Inclination)                 : 32.04420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.13470
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.02400
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.45958
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.04826
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458781.11240
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 909.54

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 21
    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
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   00 21 41.0   +36 59 51    14.826   14.737   82.9    3.8    58   25.5 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   00 21 53.1   +36 58 43    14.845   14.742   82.0    3.8    57   25.5 
2026-01-21 23:24 UT   00 22 05.2   +36 57 39    14.864   14.746   81.2    3.8    57   25.5 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   00 22 05.5   +36 57 37    14.864   14.746   81.2    3.8    57   25.5 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   00 22 18.1   +36 56 34    14.883   14.751   80.4    3.8    56   25.6 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   00 22 31.0   +36 55 33    14.902   14.755   79.5    3.8    56   25.6 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   00 22 44.2   +36 54 34    14.921   14.760   78.7    3.8    55   25.6 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   00 22 57.6   +36 53 38    14.939   14.764   77.9    3.7    55   25.6 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   00 23 11.2   +36 52 44    14.958   14.769   77.0    3.7    54   25.6 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   00 23 25.1   +36 51 53    14.977   14.773   76.2    3.7    54   25.6 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   00 23 39.2   +36 51 04    14.995   14.778   75.4    3.7    53   25.6 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   00 23 53.6   +36 50 18    15.014   14.782   74.5    3.7    53   25.6 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   00 24 08.1   +36 49 34    15.032   14.787   73.7    3.7    52   25.6 

    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.