C/2019 K7 (Smith)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Jun 2020	15.6	4.469 AU	3.801 AU	20h22m	+13°12'	125.6°	10.6°	228°
Nearest approach	15 Jul 2020	15.5	4.476 AU	3.646 AU	19h43m	+18°14'	140.4°	8.3°	181°
Today	4 Oct 2026	21.8	15.897 AU	16.405 AU	10h35m	+46°16'	57.9°	3.1°	322°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.2 + 5 log[∆] + 5.4 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2019 K7 (Smith) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9993980
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4693560
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.45920
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 308.05250
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 27.27830
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 301.20853
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 26.46979
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459016.50930
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 639694.60

    Epoch                           : 2026 Oct 04
    Reference                       : MPC194161

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-10-03 00:00 UT   10 34 56.4   +46 16 13    16.416   15.887   56.6    3.0   323   21.8 
2026-10-04 00:00 UT   10 35 09.5   +46 16 07    16.410   15.893   57.3    3.0   323   21.8 
2026-10-04 22:12 UT   10 35 21.5   +46 16 04    16.405   15.897   57.9    3.1   322   21.8 
2026-10-05 00:00 UT   10 35 22.4   +46 16 03    16.405   15.898   58.0    3.1   322   21.8 
2026-10-06 00:00 UT   10 35 35.2   +46 16 02    16.399   15.903   58.7    3.1   321   21.8 
2026-10-07 00:00 UT   10 35 47.7   +46 16 04    16.393   15.908   59.4    3.1   321   21.8 
2026-10-08 00:00 UT   10 36 00.1   +46 16 07    16.386   15.913   60.2    3.1   320   21.8 
2026-10-09 00:00 UT   10 36 12.3   +46 16 13    16.380   15.918   60.9    3.1   319   21.8 
2026-10-10 00:00 UT   10 36 24.3   +46 16 22    16.374   15.924   61.6    3.2   318   21.8 
2026-10-11 00:00 UT   10 36 36.1   +46 16 33    16.367   15.929   62.4    3.2   318   21.8 
2026-10-12 00:00 UT   10 36 47.6   +46 16 46    16.360   15.934   63.1    3.2   317   21.8 
2026-10-13 00:00 UT   10 36 59.0   +46 17 02    16.353   15.939   63.9    3.2   316   21.8 
2026-10-14 00:00 UT   10 37 10.2   +46 17 20    16.346   15.944   64.6    3.2   316   21.8 

    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.