C/2020 K7 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Jul 2019	19.8	6.440 AU	5.432 AU	18h25m	-30°39'	171.9°	1.3°	22°
Perihelion	26 Oct 2019	20.2	6.394 AU	6.774 AU	18h28m	-24°10'	63.6°	8.0°	88°
Today	25 Apr 2024	24.2	11.852 AU	12.646 AU	23h55m	+32°11'	36.5°	2.9°	293°

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)                : 0.9338910
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3938600
            i (Inclination)                 : 32.04420
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 286.10740
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 358.19830
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.58007
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.95582
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458783.48500
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 951.16

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 24
            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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   23 55 06.1   +32 10 12    12.646   11.851   36.3    2.9   294   24.2 
2024-04-25 07:03 UT   23 55 12.5   +32 11 13    12.646   11.852   36.5    2.9   293   24.2 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   23 55 27.9   +32 13 38    12.645   11.856   36.8    2.9   292   24.2 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   23 55 49.5   +32 17 04    12.644   11.860   37.3    3.0   291   24.3 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   23 56 10.9   +32 20 31    12.643   11.865   37.9    3.0   290   24.3 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   23 56 32.2   +32 23 60    12.642   11.869   38.4    3.0   289   24.3 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   23 56 53.3   +32 27 29    12.640   11.874   38.9    3.1   288   24.3 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   23 57 14.1   +32 30 58    12.639   11.879   39.5    3.1   287   24.3 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   23 57 34.8   +32 34 29    12.637   11.883   40.0    3.1   286   24.3 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   23 57 55.3   +32 37 60    12.635   11.888   40.6    3.2   285   24.3 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   23 58 15.6   +32 41 32    12.632   11.892   41.2    3.2   284   24.3 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   23 58 35.7   +32 45 04    12.630   11.897   41.7    3.2   283   24.3 

    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.