C/2019 F2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 Feb 2019	17.6	3.084 AU	2.251 AU	07h21m	+00°12'	141.3°	11.5°	69°
Perihelion	8 Sep 2019	16.9	2.235 AU	3.195 AU	12h03m	+02°32'	14.7°	6.6°	103°
Today	22 Mar 2026	28.7	15.116 AU	16.009 AU	22h23m	-02°59'	25.5°	1.6°	263°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.9 + 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 F2 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8649870
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2351710
    i (Inclination)                 : 19.35450
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 175.32130
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 11.60170
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 186.28368
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 3.82155
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458734.98110
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 67.36

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    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
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   22 22 54.1   -03 01 23    16.012   15.111   24.5    1.6   263   28.7 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   22 23 08.5   -02 59 57    16.009   15.115   25.4    1.6   263   28.7 
2026-03-22 03:05 UT   22 23 10.3   -02 59 46    16.009   15.116   25.5    1.6   263   28.7 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   22 23 22.8   -02 58 32    16.006   15.119   26.3    1.7   262   28.7 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   22 23 36.9   -02 57 07    16.003   15.123   27.2    1.7   262   28.7 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   22 23 51.0   -02 55 42    15.999   15.127   28.1    1.8   261   28.7 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   22 24 04.9   -02 54 17    15.996   15.131   29.0    1.8   261   28.7 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   22 24 18.7   -02 52 53    15.992   15.135   29.9    1.9   260   28.7 
2026-03-28 00:00 UT   22 24 32.4   -02 51 29    15.988   15.139   30.8    1.9   260   28.7 
2026-03-29 00:00 UT   22 24 46.0   -02 50 05    15.983   15.143   31.7    2.0   259   28.7 
2026-03-30 00:00 UT   22 24 59.4   -02 48 41    15.979   15.147   32.6    2.0   259   28.7 
2026-03-31 00:00 UT   22 25 12.7   -02 47 18    15.974   15.151   33.5    2.1   259   28.7 
2026-04-01 00:00 UT   22 25 25.9   -02 45 55    15.969   15.155   34.4    2.1   258   28.7 

    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.