C/2019 J2 (Palomar) - DISINTEGRATED
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Disintegration	6 Jul 2019	16.0	1.725 AU	1.767 AU	17h24m	+86°03'	70.9°	33.8°	157°
Nearest approach	14 Jul 2019	-	1.716 AU	1.746 AU	14h20m	+77°38'	71.3°	34.1°	106°
Perihelion	21 Jul 2019	-	1.714 AU	1.758 AU	13h59m	+70°17'	70.6°	34.0°	97°
Today	12 Jul 2025	-	16.747 AU	16.963 AU	09h34m	-48°19'	76.0°	3.4°	149°

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 J2 (Palomar) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9892920
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7139660
            i (Inclination)                 : 105.21030
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 25.45790
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 98.54460
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 85.65948
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 72.60352
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458685.67340
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 2025.07

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 11
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-R75

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 (13.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 12.35 + 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
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   09 34 17.2   -48 19 58    16.960   16.745   76.1    3.4   149   30.7 
2025-07-12 05:31 UT   09 34 20.6   -48 19 44    16.963   16.747   76.0    3.4   149   30.7 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   09 34 32.0   -48 19 00    16.974   16.751   75.6    3.4   150   30.7 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   09 34 46.9   -48 18 05    16.987   16.756   75.2    3.4   151   30.7 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   09 35 01.9   -48 17 13    17.001   16.762   74.7    3.4   152   30.7 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   09 35 17.0   -48 16 24    17.014   16.767   74.2    3.3   152   30.7 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   09 35 32.2   -48 15 37    17.028   16.773   73.8    3.3   153   30.8 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   09 35 47.6   -48 14 54    17.041   16.778   73.3    3.3   154   30.8 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   09 36 03.1   -48 14 14    17.054   16.784   72.9    3.3   155   30.8 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   09 36 18.7   -48 13 36    17.067   16.789   72.4    3.3   156   30.8 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   09 36 34.4   -48 13 01    17.080   16.795   72.0    3.3   156   30.8 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   09 36 50.2   -48 12 30    17.093   16.800   71.6    3.3   157   30.8 

    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.