C/2020 K1 (PANSTARRS)
Metadata
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Designation | C/2020 K1 (PANSTARRS) |
| Type | C |
| Perihelion (tp_cal, UTC) | 2023-05-09T01:41:30.871680Z |
| Orbit solution date (soln_date, UTC) | 2026-01-13T08:12:19Z |
| Obs used | 3654 |
| NEO | - |
| M1 | 8.600 |
| K1 | 6.000 |
| PC | - |
| Discovery observation (MPC, UTC) | 2020-05-17T12:17:42.374400Z |
| Discovery magnitude (MPC) | 20.62 w |
| Discovery observatory (MPC) | F52 · Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala |
Osculating Elements
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Epoch (epoch_cal, TDB) | 2022-07-30.0000000 |
| e | 0.99993396 |
| q (au) | 3.073432 |
| a (au) | 46539.102040 |
| i (deg) | 89.664119 |
| Ω (om, deg) | 94.355516 |
| ω (w, deg) | 213.979170 |
| M (ma, deg) | 359.999972 |
Magnitude
Scatter + Global Linear
$$ M_a = (9.730 + 3.251\cdot 2.5\log_{10} r) + \epsilon - 2.5\log_{10}\Phi(\theta) + 5\log_{10}\Delta $$ $$ \theta = 180^\circ - \alpha $$ $$ \Phi(\theta) = \frac{\delta_{90} D(\theta) + 1}{\delta_{90} + 1},\quad D(\theta) = k\cdot \Phi_{HG}(\theta; g_f) + (1-k)\cdot \Phi_{HG}(\theta; g_b) $$ $$ \Phi_{HG}(\theta; g) = \left(\frac{1+g^2}{1+g^2-2g\cos\theta}\right)^{3/2},\quad \Phi_{HG}(90^\circ)=1 $$
Model Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| H0 | 9.730 |
| n | 3.251 |
| gf | 1.000 |
| gb | -0.755 |
| k | 0.800 |
| δ90 | 10.000 |
| Parameter | Symbol | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute magnitude at 1 AU from Sun and Earth | H0 | -5 to 20 | Intrinsic brightness of the comet |
| Photometric slope parameter | n | 2 to 6 | Rate of brightness change with heliocentric distance |
| Forward scattering asymmetry factor | gf |
0.8 to 1 | Degree of forward scattering |
| Backward scattering asymmetry factor | gb |
-1 to -0.5 | Degree of backward scattering |
| Partitioning coefficient | k | 0.8 to 1 | Ratio between forward/backward scattering contributions |
| Dust-to-gas brightness ratio | δ90 | 1 to 10 | Relative contribution of dust scattering to gas emission |
Reference: EPSC-DPS2025-160
Residuals (Piecewise)
$$\epsilon = a \log_{10} r_{\mathrm{au}} + b$$
| Start (UTC) | End (UTC) | a | b |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | 2022-05-11 | +3.1260 | -2.518 |
| 2022-05-11 | 2022-08-27 | +3.2667 | -2.252 |
| 2022-08-27 | 2023-05-09 | -4.3942 | +1.980 |
| 2023-05-09 | 2024-01-03 | +2.2525 | -1.021 |
| 2024-01-03 | 2025-12-27 | +0.4320 | -0.366 |
log10 r = log10(heliocentric distance / AU), Δ = geocentric distance (AU)
Finding Chart
Ephemeris
| Date/Time (UTC) | RA (J2000) | Dec (J2000) | Nearest HIP | Dist from HIP (arcmin) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 00:00 | 05:54:56.56 | -17:26:06.3 | HIP 27917 | 21.24 |
| 2026-02-03 12:00 | 05:54:46.58 | -17:23:25.7 | HIP 27917 | 23.23 |
| 2026-02-04 00:00 | 05:54:36.70 | -17:20:44.5 | HIP 28092 | 24.88 |
| 2026-02-04 12:00 | 05:54:26.95 | -17:18:02.7 | HIP 28092 | 26.64 |
| 2026-02-05 00:00 | 05:54:17.31 | -17:15:20.3 | HIP 28092 | 28.71 |
| 2026-02-05 12:00 | 05:54:07.79 | -17:12:37.4 | HIP 28092 | 31.02 |
| 2026-02-06 00:00 | 05:53:58.39 | -17:09:54.0 | HIP 28038 | 33.25 |
| 2026-02-06 12:00 | 05:53:49.11 | -17:07:10.0 | HIP 28038 | 33.43 |
| 2026-02-07 00:00 | 05:53:39.94 | -17:04:25.5 | HIP 28038 | 33.95 |
| 2026-02-07 12:00 | 05:53:30.90 | -17:01:40.5 | HIP 28038 | 34.79 |
| 2026-02-08 00:00 | 05:53:21.98 | -16:58:54.9 | HIP 28038 | 35.92 |
| 2026-02-08 12:00 | 05:53:13.17 | -16:56:09.0 | HIP 28038 | 37.32 |
| 2026-02-09 00:00 | 05:53:04.49 | -16:53:22.5 | HIP 27606 | 37.10 |
| 2026-02-09 12:00 | 05:52:55.93 | -16:50:35.6 | HIP 27849 | 35.70 |
| 2026-02-10 00:00 | 05:52:47.49 | -16:47:48.2 | HIP 27849 | 33.57 |
| 2026-02-10 12:00 | 05:52:39.18 | -16:45:00.4 | HIP 27849 | 31.65 |
| 2026-02-11 00:00 | 05:52:30.98 | -16:42:12.2 | HIP 27849 | 29.98 |
| 2026-02-11 12:00 | 05:52:22.91 | -16:39:23.6 | HIP 27849 | 28.60 |
| 2026-02-12 00:00 | 05:52:14.97 | -16:36:34.6 | HIP 27849 | 27.56 |
| 2026-02-12 12:00 | 05:52:07.15 | -16:33:45.2 | HIP 27849 | 26.88 |
| 2026-02-13 00:00 | 05:51:59.45 | -16:30:55.4 | HIP 27849 | 26.59 |
| 2026-02-13 12:00 | 05:51:51.87 | -16:28:05.3 | HIP 27716 | 24.33 |
| 2026-02-14 00:00 | 05:51:44.43 | -16:25:14.8 | HIP 27716 | 21.94 |
| 2026-02-14 12:00 | 05:51:37.10 | -16:22:24.0 | HIP 27716 | 19.82 |
| 2026-02-15 00:00 | 05:51:29.90 | -16:19:32.9 | HIP 27716 | 18.04 |
| 2026-02-15 12:00 | 05:51:22.83 | -16:16:41.5 | HIP 27716 | 16.73 |
| 2026-02-16 00:00 | 05:51:15.89 | -16:13:49.8 | HIP 27716 | 15.99 |
| 2026-02-16 12:00 | 05:51:09.07 | -16:10:57.8 | HIP 27716 | 15.89 |
| 2026-02-17 00:00 | 05:51:02.37 | -16:08:05.5 | HIP 27716 | 16.43 |
| 2026-02-17 12:00 | 05:50:55.81 | -16:05:13.0 | HIP 27716 | 17.55 |
| 2026-02-18 00:00 | 05:50:49.37 | -16:02:20.3 | HIP 27716 | 19.14 |
| 2026-02-18 12:00 | 05:50:43.05 | -15:59:27.3 | HIP 27716 | 21.10 |
| 2026-02-19 00:00 | 05:50:36.87 | -15:56:34.1 | HIP 27716 | 23.32 |
| 2026-02-19 12:00 | 05:50:30.81 | -15:53:40.8 | HIP 27716 | 25.73 |
| 2026-02-20 00:00 | 05:50:24.87 | -15:50:47.2 | HIP 27716 | 28.28 |
| 2026-02-20 12:00 | 05:50:19.07 | -15:47:53.4 | HIP 27707 | 30.24 |
| 2026-02-21 00:00 | 05:50:13.39 | -15:44:59.5 | HIP 27707 | 29.84 |
| 2026-02-21 12:00 | 05:50:07.84 | -15:42:05.5 | HIP 27707 | 29.76 |
| 2026-02-22 00:00 | 05:50:02.42 | -15:39:11.3 | HIP 27707 | 29.99 |
| 2026-02-22 12:00 | 05:49:57.13 | -15:36:16.9 | HIP 27707 | 30.52 |
| 2026-02-23 00:00 | 05:49:51.96 | -15:33:22.5 | HIP 27707 | 31.34 |
| 2026-02-23 12:00 | 05:49:46.92 | -15:30:28.0 | HIP 27707 | 32.41 |
| 2026-02-24 00:00 | 05:49:42.00 | -15:27:33.3 | HIP 27707 | 33.72 |