C/2019 J3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jun 2019	18.0	2.399 AU	1.385 AU	17h48m	-20°56'	174.5°	2.3°	118°
Perihelion	1 Aug 2019	18.6	2.360 AU	1.882 AU	15h43m	-03°51'	105.2°	24.5°	108°
Today	23 Feb 2026	32.1	17.647 AU	17.007 AU	07h23m	+42°33'	129.0°	2.5°	116°

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. (13.5 + 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 J3 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9997150
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.3603330
    i (Inclination)                 : 131.29340
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 270.65580
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 16.46630
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 259.61863
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.29636
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458697.08860
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 753689.78

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPC117071

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   07 23 56.0   +42 34 26    16.988   17.641  130.1    2.5   117   32.1 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   07 23 40.7   +42 33 39    17.005   17.647  129.1    2.5   116   32.1 
2026-02-23 02:47 UT   07 23 38.9   +42 33 33    17.007   17.647  129.0    2.5   116   32.1 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   07 23 25.6   +42 32 50    17.023   17.652  128.2    2.5   116   32.1 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   07 23 10.8   +42 31 60    17.040   17.657  127.2    2.6   115   32.1 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   07 22 56.3   +42 31 09    17.058   17.663  126.3    2.6   114   32.1 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   07 22 42.1   +42 30 16    17.076   17.668  125.4    2.6   114   32.1 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   07 22 28.1   +42 29 23    17.094   17.674  124.4    2.7   113   32.1 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   07 22 14.4   +42 28 28    17.113   17.679  123.5    2.7   113   32.1 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   07 22 01.0   +42 27 32    17.131   17.684  122.5    2.7   112   32.1 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   07 21 47.9   +42 26 35    17.150   17.690  121.6    2.7   112   32.1 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   07 21 35.1   +42 25 37    17.169   17.695  120.6    2.8   111   32.2 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   07 21 22.6   +42 24 37    17.188   17.700  119.7    2.8   110   32.2 

    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.