C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.7	6.422 AU	5.413 AU	18h25m	-30°40'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	23 Oct 2019	20.2	6.377 AU	6.714 AU	18h27m	-24°19'	66.2°	8.2°	88°
Today	30 Oct 2026	25.9	16.002 AU	15.166 AU	00h51m	+41°57'	146.2°	2.0°	140°

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)                : 0.9315230
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3771580
    i (Inclination)                 : 32.04520
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.12440
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 357.95970
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.39478
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.08239
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458780.49800
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 898.72

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 29
    Reference                       : MPC194168

    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
2026-10-29 00:00 UT   00 52 10.1   +41 59 50    15.157   15.995  146.5    2.0   143   25.9 
2026-10-30 00:00 UT   00 51 56.5   +41 58 05    15.163   15.999  146.3    2.0   141   25.9 
2026-10-30 12:41 UT   00 51 49.4   +41 57 09    15.166   16.002  146.2    2.0   140   25.9 
2026-10-31 00:00 UT   00 51 43.1   +41 56 18    15.169   16.004  146.2    2.0   139   25.9 
2026-11-01 00:00 UT   00 51 29.8   +41 54 29    15.176   16.008  145.9    2.0   138   25.9 
2026-11-02 00:00 UT   00 51 16.7   +41 52 39    15.183   16.013  145.7    2.0   136   26.0 
2026-11-03 00:00 UT   00 51 03.8   +41 50 47    15.190   16.017  145.5    2.0   134   26.0 
2026-11-04 00:00 UT   00 50 51.0   +41 48 54    15.197   16.022  145.2    2.0   132   26.0 
2026-11-05 00:00 UT   00 50 38.5   +41 46 58    15.205   16.026  144.9    2.0   130   26.0 
2026-11-06 00:00 UT   00 50 26.1   +41 45 02    15.212   16.030  144.5    2.1   129   26.0 
2026-11-07 00:00 UT   00 50 13.8   +41 43 04    15.220   16.035  144.2    2.1   127   26.0 
2026-11-08 00:00 UT   00 50 01.8   +41 41 04    15.229   16.039  143.8    2.1   125   26.0 
2026-11-09 00:00 UT   00 49 50.0   +41 39 03    15.237   16.044  143.4    2.1   124   26.0 

    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.