C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2019	21.2	6.350 AU	5.391 AU	09h14m	+00°47'	165.0°	2.3°	33°
Perihelion	7 Jun 2019	21.7	6.316 AU	6.752 AU	09h12m	+12°23'	60.6°	8.0°	109°
Today	15 Feb 2026	26.6	13.631 AU	13.890 AU	18h12m	+38°40'	72.8°	4.0°	303°

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. (9.5 + 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 C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7066630
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3159620
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.55550
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 146.48840
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 355.88540
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.91518
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.80244
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458642.11490
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 99.91

    Epoch                           : 2026 Feb 14
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   18 12 18.2   +38 37 10    13.893   13.627   72.4    4.0   304   26.6 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   18 12 35.9   +38 39 40    13.891   13.630   72.7    4.0   303   26.6 
2026-02-15 03:44 UT   18 12 38.7   +38 40 04    13.890   13.631   72.8    4.0   303   26.6 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   18 12 53.4   +38 42 13    13.888   13.634   73.1    4.0   302   26.6 
2026-02-17 00:00 UT   18 13 10.6   +38 44 48    13.886   13.637   73.4    4.0   301   26.6 
2026-02-18 00:00 UT   18 13 27.5   +38 47 25    13.883   13.641   73.8    4.0   300   26.6 
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   18 13 44.1   +38 50 04    13.880   13.644   74.2    4.0   300   26.6 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   18 14 00.5   +38 52 45    13.878   13.648   74.6    4.0   299   26.6 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   18 14 16.5   +38 55 29    13.875   13.651   74.9    4.0   298   26.6 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   18 14 32.2   +38 58 14    13.872   13.655   75.3    4.0   297   26.6 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   18 14 47.6   +39 01 01    13.869   13.658   75.7    4.0   296   26.6 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   18 15 02.7   +39 03 50    13.866   13.662   76.1    4.0   295   26.6 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   18 15 17.5   +39 06 40    13.863   13.666   76.5    4.0   294   26.6 

    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.