C/2019 L1 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jul 2019	19.5	2.908 AU	1.904 AU	20h01m	-09°12'	168.9°	3.9°	165°
Perihelion	6 Aug 2019	19.6	2.906 AU	1.925 AU	19h55m	-09°02'	161.8°	6.3°	117°
Today	2 Jan 2026	29.7	12.442 AU	11.474 AU	06h09m	+19°57'	169.6°	0.8°	72°

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 L1 (PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7038980
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.9057290
    i (Inclination)                 : 9.97430
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 254.42810
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 49.98940
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 303.98725
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.62352
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458701.73750
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 30.74

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-A50

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-01 00:00 UT   06 09 46.2   +19 57 19    11.464   12.437  171.4    0.7    68   29.7 
2026-01-02 00:00 UT   06 09 28.0   +19 57 18    11.469   12.440  170.4    0.8    70   29.7 
2026-01-02 18:55 UT   06 09 13.8   +19 57 16    11.474   12.442  169.6    0.8    72   29.7 
2026-01-03 00:00 UT   06 09 10.0   +19 57 16    11.475   12.443  169.3    0.8    72   29.7 
2026-01-04 00:00 UT   06 08 52.0   +19 57 15    11.481   12.446  168.3    0.9    74   29.7 
2026-01-05 00:00 UT   06 08 34.1   +19 57 13    11.487   12.448  167.3    1.0    75   29.8 
2026-01-06 00:00 UT   06 08 16.3   +19 57 12    11.494   12.451  166.2    1.1    77   29.8 
2026-01-07 00:00 UT   06 07 58.6   +19 57 12    11.501   12.454  165.2    1.2    78   29.8 
2026-01-08 00:00 UT   06 07 41.1   +19 57 11    11.508   12.457  164.1    1.2    78   29.8 
2026-01-09 00:00 UT   06 07 23.6   +19 57 11    11.516   12.460  163.0    1.3    79   29.8 
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   06 07 06.3   +19 57 10    11.523   12.462  162.0    1.4    80   29.8 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   06 06 49.2   +19 57 10    11.532   12.465  160.9    1.5    81   29.8 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   06 06 32.1   +19 57 10    11.540   12.468  159.8    1.6    81   29.8 

    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.