C/2025 K3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	9 Jun 2025	21.7	10.611 AU	10.410 AU	19h11m	+53°59'	98.7°	5.4°	208°
Perihelion	13 Dec 2028	14.6	3.469 AU	3.548 AU	12h04m	-09°16'	77.4°	16.1°	292°
Nearest approach	24 Feb 2029	14.0	3.533 AU	2.665 AU	10h23m	-24°00'	146.5°	8.9°	3°

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 K3 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0016730
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4688400
            i (Inclination)                 : 104.93290
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 350.61720
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 188.59440
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 348.38690
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.30207
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462119.26880

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 07
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-L43

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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. (6.40 + 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   19 11 25.2   +53 58 42    10.412   10.612   98.7    5.4   209   21.7 
2025-06-09 04:15 UT   19 11 17.8   +53 59 16    10.410   10.611   98.7    5.4   208   21.7 
2025-06-10 00:00 UT   19 10 43.6   +54 01 51    10.402   10.606   98.9    5.4   207   21.7 
2025-06-11 00:00 UT   19 10 01.6   +54 04 54    10.392   10.600   99.1    5.4   206   21.7 
2025-06-12 00:00 UT   19 09 19.1   +54 07 52    10.383   10.593   99.3    5.4   205   21.7 
2025-06-13 00:00 UT   19 08 36.2   +54 10 44    10.373   10.587   99.5    5.4   204   21.7 
2025-06-14 00:00 UT   19 07 52.8   +54 13 30    10.364   10.581   99.7    5.4   203   21.7 
2025-06-15 00:00 UT   19 07 09.0   +54 16 11    10.354   10.575   99.8    5.4   202   21.7 
2025-06-16 00:00 UT   19 06 24.8   +54 18 45    10.345   10.569  100.0    5.4   201   21.7 
2025-06-17 00:00 UT   19 05 40.2   +54 21 14    10.336   10.563  100.2    5.4   200   21.7 
2025-06-18 00:00 UT   19 04 55.2   +54 23 37    10.327   10.557  100.4    5.4   198   21.7 
2025-06-19 00:00 UT   19 04 09.8   +54 25 53    10.318   10.550  100.5    5.4   197   21.7 

    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.