C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2019	21.2	6.350 AU	5.392 AU	09h14m	+00°47'	165.0°	2.3°	33°
Perihelion	7 Jun 2019	21.7	6.317 AU	6.754 AU	09h12m	+12°23'	60.5°	8.0°	109°
Today	21 Mar 2026	26.6	13.752 AU	13.777 AU	18h19m	+40°23'	86.5°	4.1°	273°

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)                : 0.7066930
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3166020
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.55620
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 146.48540
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 355.89600
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.91629
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.79267
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458642.21700
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 99.94

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 20
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   18 19 24.6   +40 18 14    13.782   13.747   85.9    4.1   274   26.6 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   18 19 31.0   +40 21 31    13.778   13.750   86.3    4.1   273   26.6 
2026-03-21 11:34 UT   18 19 34.0   +40 23 06    13.777   13.752   86.5    4.1   273   26.6 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   18 19 37.1   +40 24 49    13.775   13.754   86.7    4.1   272   26.6 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   18 19 42.8   +40 28 06    13.771   13.757   87.1    4.1   271   26.6 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   18 19 48.1   +40 31 24    13.767   13.761   87.6    4.2   271   26.6 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   18 19 53.0   +40 34 42    13.763   13.764   88.0    4.2   270   26.6 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   18 19 57.5   +40 37 60    13.759   13.768   88.4    4.2   269   26.6 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   18 20 01.6   +40 41 18    13.756   13.771   88.8    4.2   268   26.6 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   18 20 05.4   +40 44 36    13.752   13.775   89.2    4.2   267   26.6 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   18 20 08.8   +40 47 53    13.748   13.778   89.7    4.2   266   26.6 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   18 20 11.8   +40 51 11    13.744   13.782   90.1    4.2   265   26.6 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   18 20 14.4   +40 54 28    13.740   13.785   90.5    4.2   264   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.