C/2019 A5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Feb 2019	21.2	6.349 AU	5.390 AU	09h14m	+00°47'	165.0°	2.3°	33°
Perihelion	7 Jun 2019	21.7	6.315 AU	6.751 AU	09h12m	+12°23'	60.7°	8.1°	109°
Today	16 Jan 2026	26.5	13.524 AU	13.926 AU	18h02m	+37°43'	64.0°	3.7°	332°

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)                : 0.7066400
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.3154970
    i (Inclination)                 : 67.55500
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 146.49100
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 355.87800
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.91491
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.80926
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458642.04330
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 99.89

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 15
    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
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   18 01 35.6   +37 42 40    13.926   13.520   63.8    3.7   333   26.5 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   18 01 59.8   +37 43 45    13.926   13.524   64.0    3.7   332   26.5 
2026-01-16 01:51 UT   18 02 01.6   +37 43 51    13.926   13.524   64.0    3.7   332   26.5 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   18 02 23.9   +37 44 54    13.926   13.528   64.2    3.8   331   26.5 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   18 02 47.8   +37 46 06    13.926   13.531   64.4    3.8   330   26.5 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   18 03 11.5   +37 47 21    13.926   13.535   64.7    3.8   329   26.5 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   18 03 35.1   +37 48 39    13.926   13.538   64.9    3.8   328   26.5 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   18 03 58.5   +37 50 01    13.926   13.542   65.1    3.8   327   26.5 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   18 04 21.8   +37 51 26    13.926   13.545   65.4    3.8   326   26.5 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   18 04 44.9   +37 52 54    13.925   13.549   65.6    3.8   325   26.5 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   18 05 07.7   +37 54 25    13.925   13.552   65.9    3.8   324   26.5 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   18 05 30.4   +37 55 59    13.924   13.556   66.1    3.8   323   26.5 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   18 05 52.9   +37 57 36    13.923   13.559   66.4    3.8   322   26.5 

    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.