C/2019 K8 (ATLAS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 5 Jun 2019 | 18.1 | 3.225 AU | 3.131 AU | 19h22m | +67°04' | 86.1° | 18.3° | 214° |
Perihelion | 21 Jul 2019 | 18.2 | 3.195 AU | 3.280 AU | 15h31m | +74°02' | 76.2° | 18.0° | 117° |
Today | 26 Apr 2024 | 27.5 | 13.439 AU | 13.739 AU | 06h53m | -03°38' | 70.6° | 4.1° | 106° |
C/2019 K8 (ATLAS)- 2024-04-26
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 K8 (ATLAS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9984820
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.1948970
i (Inclination) : 93.09330
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 291.01440
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 85.36110
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 257.38904
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 84.42622
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458685.75810
P (Orbital period in years) : 96555.64
Epoch : 2024 Apr 26
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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.56 + 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT 06 53 29.2 -03 39 34 13.723 13.435 71.3 4.1 106 27.5
2024-04-26 18:45 UT 06 53 34.2 -03 38 57 13.739 13.439 70.6 4.1 106 27.5
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 06 53 35.7 -03 38 46 13.743 13.440 70.5 4.0 106 27.5
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 06 53 42.4 -03 37 60 13.763 13.446 69.6 4.0 107 27.5
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 06 53 49.4 -03 37 15 13.783 13.452 68.8 4.0 107 27.5
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 06 53 56.6 -03 36 31 13.803 13.458 68.0 4.0 108 27.5
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 06 54 04.0 -03 35 48 13.823 13.463 67.1 4.0 108 27.6
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 06 54 11.7 -03 35 07 13.842 13.469 66.3 3.9 108 27.6
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 06 54 19.6 -03 34 27 13.862 13.475 65.5 3.9 109 27.6
2024-05-04 00:00 UT 06 54 27.7 -03 33 49 13.881 13.481 64.7 3.9 110 27.6
2024-05-05 00:00 UT 06 54 36.1 -03 33 12 13.900 13.487 63.9 3.8 110 27.6
2024-05-06 00:00 UT 06 54 44.6 -03 32 36 13.919 13.492 63.0 3.8 111 27.6
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.