P/2020 MK4 (PANSTARRS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Today | 20 Oct 2025 | 19.5 | 6.147 AU | 5.325 AU td > | 04h02m | +27°28' | 142.7° | 5.6° | 250° |
Nearest approach | 18 Dec 2026 | 19.4 | 6.130 AU | 5.155 AU td > | 05h42m | +31°26' | 171.9° | 1.3° | 180° |
Perihelion | 25 Apr 2027 | 20.0 | 6.129 AU | 6.680 AU td > | 05h46m | +29°36' | 53.1° | 7.5° | 84° |
P/2020 MK4 (PANSTARRS)- 2025-10-20
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.)
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.
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. (8.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 P/2020 MK4 (PANSTARRS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.0153940
q (Perihelion distance) : 6.1293670
i (Inclination) : 6.78100
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 0.65910
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 94.00490
L (Longitude of perihelion) : -85.30788
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 6.76436
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2461520.58200
P (Orbital period in years) : 15.53
Epoch : 2025 Oct 19
Reference : MPEC 2024-NE4
Classification(s): : Ecliptic; Chiron type
Tisserand (Jupiter) : 3.008
Ephemerides
Date Time RA (2000) DEC (2000) delta radius elong phase PA magn
2025-10-19 00:00 UT 04 03 20.3 +27 28 17 5.343 6.147 140.8 5.9 251 19.5
2025-10-20 00:00 UT 04 02 60.0 +27 28 25 5.333 6.147 141.9 5.7 250 19.5
2025-10-20 19:22 UT 04 02 43.2 +27 28 30 5.325 6.147 142.7 5.6 250 19.5
2025-10-21 00:00 UT 04 02 39.1 +27 28 31 5.323 6.147 142.9 5.6 250 19.5
2025-10-22 00:00 UT 04 02 17.7 +27 28 33 5.314 6.147 144.0 5.5 249 19.5
2025-10-23 00:00 UT 04 01 55.7 +27 28 33 5.305 6.147 145.0 5.3 249 19.5
2025-10-24 00:00 UT 04 01 33.2 +27 28 31 5.296 6.147 146.1 5.2 249 19.5
2025-10-25 00:00 UT 04 01 10.1 +27 28 26 5.288 6.147 147.1 5.0 248 19.5
2025-10-26 00:00 UT 04 00 46.5 +27 28 18 5.280 6.147 148.2 4.9 248 19.5
2025-10-27 00:00 UT 04 00 22.5 +27 28 08 5.272 6.147 149.2 4.7 247 19.5
2025-10-28 00:00 UT 03 59 57.9 +27 27 55 5.264 6.147 150.3 4.6 246 19.5
2025-10-29 00:00 UT 03 59 32.9 +27 27 39 5.256 6.147 151.4 4.4 246 19.5
2025-10-30 00:00 UT 03 59 07.5 +27 27 21 5.249 6.147 152.4 4.3 245 19.5
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.