C/2025 K3 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Today | 10 Jul 2025 | 21.6 | 10.420 AU | 10.150 AU | 18h47m | +54°48' | 102.7° | 5.5° | 173° |
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° |
C/2025 K3 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-07-10
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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) : 3.4688440
i (Inclination) : 104.93350
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 350.62070
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 188.59530
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 348.39007
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -8.30291
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2462119.27140
Epoch : 2025 Jul 09
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
2025-07-10 00:00 UT 18 47 20.9 +54 48 25 10.151 10.421 102.7 5.5 173 21.6
2025-07-10 05:07 UT 18 47 10.4 +54 48 24 10.150 10.420 102.7 5.5 173 21.6
2025-07-11 00:00 UT 18 46 31.7 +54 48 15 10.144 10.415 102.7 5.5 172 21.6
2025-07-12 00:00 UT 18 45 42.5 +54 47 58 10.138 10.409 102.7 5.5 171 21.6
2025-07-13 00:00 UT 18 44 53.4 +54 47 34 10.131 10.403 102.8 5.5 170 21.6
2025-07-14 00:00 UT 18 44 04.4 +54 47 04 10.125 10.396 102.8 5.5 168 21.6
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 18 43 15.4 +54 46 26 10.118 10.390 102.8 5.5 167 21.6
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 18 42 26.6 +54 45 42 10.112 10.384 102.8 5.5 166 21.6
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 18 41 37.9 +54 44 51 10.106 10.378 102.8 5.5 165 21.6
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 18 40 49.3 +54 43 53 10.100 10.372 102.8 5.5 164 21.6
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 18 40 00.9 +54 42 48 10.094 10.366 102.8 5.5 163 21.6
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 18 39 12.7 +54 41 36 10.088 10.359 102.8 5.5 161 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.