C/2019 JU6 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	2 Jun 2019	18.5	2.028 AU	1.501 AU	20h27m	+27°42'	105.8°	28.8°	234°
Nearest approach	25 Jun 2019	18.1	2.046 AU	1.278 AU	18h11m	+30°49'	125.8°	23.8°	179°
Today	23 Apr 2026	33.5	18.536 AU	18.146 AU	09h20m	-12°21'	111.3°	2.9°	99°

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. (14.5 + 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 JU6 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9996740
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0279670
    i (Inclination)                 : 148.27660
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 21.62480
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 94.66620
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 106.14362
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 31.60608
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458637.24030
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 490642.23

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   09 20 27.0   -12 23 29    18.119   18.528  112.5    2.9    98   33.5 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   09 20 22.2   -12 21 46    18.139   18.533  111.6    2.9    99   33.5 
2026-04-23 09:44 UT   09 20 20.3   -12 21 05    18.146   18.536  111.3    2.9    99   33.5 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   09 20 17.5   -12 20 04    18.158   18.539  110.8    2.9    99   33.5 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   09 20 13.1   -12 18 23    18.177   18.544  109.9    2.9   100   33.5 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   09 20 08.9   -12 16 42    18.197   18.549  109.0    2.9   100   33.5 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   09 20 05.0   -12 15 02    18.217   18.555  108.1    3.0   101   33.5 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   09 20 01.2   -12 13 23    18.236   18.560  107.2    3.0   101   33.5 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   09 19 57.7   -12 11 45    18.256   18.565  106.4    3.0   102   33.5 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   09 19 54.4   -12 10 08    18.276   18.571  105.5    3.0   102   33.5 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   09 19 51.3   -12 08 31    18.296   18.576  104.6    3.0   102   33.5 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   09 19 48.4   -12 06 55    18.316   18.581  103.7    3.0   103   33.5 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   09 19 45.8   -12 05 21    18.336   18.587  102.8    3.0   103   33.5 

    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.