C/2025 K3 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	30 Jun 2025	21.7	10.482 AU	10.224 AU	18h55m	+54°44'	102.0°	5.4°	185°
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°01'	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)                : 1.0016710
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.4688390
            i (Inclination)                 : 104.93330
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 350.61950
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 188.59500
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 348.38898
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.30263
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2462119.27050

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 28
            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
2025-06-30 00:00 UT   18 55 30.8   +54 43 51    10.225   10.483  102.0    5.4   185   21.7 
2025-06-30 04:38 UT   18 55 21.5   +54 44 02    10.224   10.482  102.0    5.4   185   21.7 
2025-07-01 00:00 UT   18 54 42.3   +54 44 49    10.217   10.477  102.1    5.4   184   21.6 
2025-07-02 00:00 UT   18 53 53.6   +54 45 40    10.209   10.470  102.2    5.4   182   21.6 
2025-07-03 00:00 UT   18 53 04.8   +54 46 25    10.202   10.464  102.2    5.4   181   21.6 
2025-07-04 00:00 UT   18 52 15.8   +54 47 02    10.194   10.458  102.3    5.4   180   21.6 
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   18 51 26.8   +54 47 33    10.187   10.452  102.4    5.5   179   21.6 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   18 50 37.7   +54 47 57    10.180   10.446  102.5    5.5   178   21.6 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   18 49 48.5   +54 48 15    10.172   10.440  102.5    5.5   177   21.6 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   18 48 59.3   +54 48 25    10.165   10.433  102.6    5.5   175   21.6 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   18 48 10.1   +54 48 29    10.158   10.427  102.6    5.5   174   21.6 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   18 47 20.9   +54 48 25    10.151   10.421  102.7    5.5   173   21.6 

    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.