C/2025 K2 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	9 Jun 2025	20.5	3.116 AU	2.317 AU	20h29m	-39°44'	134.7°	13.4°	276°
Nearest approach	8 Jul 2025	20.1	3.019 AU	2.103 AU	19h14m	-53°38'	148.8°	10.0°	358°
Perihelion	1 Nov 2025	20.9	2.834 AU	3.410 AU	15h51m	-59°07'	47.4°	14.9°	151°

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/2025 K2 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7793210
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.8344490
            i (Inclination)                 : 113.27940
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 113.44400
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 233.62980
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 85.22417
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -47.70158
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460980.87690
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 46.03

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-L17

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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. (13.70 + 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
2025-06-09 00:00 UT   20 29 55.8   -39 36 46     2.321    3.117  134.4   13.4   276   20.5 
2025-06-09 06:25 UT   20 29 32.2   -39 44 28     2.317    3.116  134.7   13.4   276   20.5 
2025-06-10 00:00 UT   20 28 26.1   -40 05 39     2.307    3.114  135.5   13.2   277   20.4 
2025-06-11 00:00 UT   20 26 52.4   -40 34 47     2.294    3.110  136.5   13.0   279   20.4 
2025-06-12 00:00 UT   20 25 14.8   -41 04 07     2.280    3.106  137.6   12.7   280   20.4 
2025-06-13 00:00 UT   20 23 33.1   -41 33 38     2.268    3.103  138.6   12.5   282   20.4 
2025-06-14 00:00 UT   20 21 47.2   -42 03 21     2.255    3.099  139.6   12.3   284   20.4 
2025-06-15 00:00 UT   20 19 57.0   -42 33 12     2.243    3.096  140.6   12.0   286   20.4 
2025-06-16 00:00 UT   20 18 02.4   -43 03 10     2.232    3.092  141.5   11.8   288   20.3 
2025-06-17 00:00 UT   20 16 03.4   -43 33 15     2.221    3.089  142.4   11.6   290   20.3 
2025-06-18 00:00 UT   20 13 59.8   -44 03 24     2.210    3.085  143.3   11.3   292   20.3 
2025-06-19 00:00 UT   20 11 51.6   -44 33 36     2.200    3.082  144.2   11.1   294   20.3 

    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.