C/2019 F2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 Feb 2019	17.5	3.080 AU	2.246 AU	07h22m	+00°14'	141.4°	11.5°	69°
Perihelion	7 Sep 2019	16.9	2.238 AU	3.195 AU	12h02m	+02°36'	15.2°	6.8°	104°
Today	22 Aug 2025	28.1	14.250 AU	13.250 AU	22h09m	-02°39'	170.8°	0.6°	186°

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2019 F2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8648110
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.2380040
            i (Inclination)                 : 19.33940
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 175.34040
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 11.60600
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 186.30785
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 3.82008
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458734.38790
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 67.36

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 21
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-A40

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (12.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.90 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   22 09 09.6   -02 39 17    13.249   14.249  170.7    0.7   188   28.1 
2025-08-22 07:48 UT   22 09 05.0   -02 39 47    13.250   14.250  170.8    0.6   186   28.1 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   22 08 55.6   -02 40 48    13.252   14.253  171.1    0.6   182   28.1 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   22 08 41.6   -02 42 20    13.256   14.257  171.5    0.6   176   28.1 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   22 08 27.6   -02 43 52    13.260   14.261  171.7    0.6   169   28.1 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   22 08 13.7   -02 45 24    13.264   14.265  171.8    0.6   162   28.1 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   22 07 59.7   -02 46 57    13.268   14.270  171.8    0.6   155   28.1 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   22 07 45.8   -02 48 31    13.273   14.274  171.7    0.6   148   28.1 
2025-08-29 00:00 UT   22 07 32.0   -02 50 05    13.278   14.278  171.4    0.6   141   28.1 
2025-08-30 00:00 UT   22 07 18.1   -02 51 40    13.284   14.282  171.0    0.6   134   28.1 
2025-08-31 00:00 UT   22 07 04.3   -02 53 14    13.289   14.286  170.6    0.7   129   28.1 
2025-09-01 00:00 UT   22 06 50.6   -02 54 50    13.295   14.290  170.0    0.7   124   28.1 

    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.