C/2019 L2 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	2 Apr 2019	20.2	1.625 AU	2.592 AU	23h59m	+05°49'	11.6°	7.1°	274°
Nearest approach	10 Jul 2019	19.7	2.057 AU	1.270 AU	20h11m	+28°12'	127.9°	23.0°	196°
Today	26 Apr 2024	33.0	13.964 AU	12.983 AU	13h44m	-02°43'	166.5°	1.0°	145°

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 L2 (NEOWISE) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9352730
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6254400
            i (Inclination)                 : 152.19500
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 12.55830
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 18.86460
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -4.25837
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.67463
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458576.18890
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 125.84

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 25
            Reference                       : MPC115886

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 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. (16.00 + 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   13 44 52.6   -02 44 28    12.978   13.961  167.0    0.9   146   33.0 
2024-04-26 13:47 UT   13 44 41.7   -02 43 39    12.983   13.964  166.5    1.0   145   33.0 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   13 44 33.6   -02 43 02    12.986   13.966  166.1    1.0   144   33.0 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   13 44 14.6   -02 41 38    12.994   13.971  165.2    1.1   141   33.0 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   13 43 55.7   -02 40 14    13.003   13.976  164.3    1.1   139   33.0 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   13 43 36.9   -02 38 52    13.012   13.981  163.4    1.2   138   33.0 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   13 43 18.2   -02 37 30    13.022   13.986  162.5    1.2   136   33.0 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   13 42 59.5   -02 36 10    13.031   13.991  161.5    1.3   134   33.0 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   13 42 41.0   -02 34 50    13.041   13.996  160.6    1.4   133   33.0 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   13 42 22.5   -02 33 32    13.051   14.001  159.6    1.4   132   33.0 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   13 42 04.2   -02 32 15    13.062   14.006  158.6    1.5   131   33.0 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   13 41 46.0   -02 30 60    13.073   14.011  157.6    1.6   130   33.0 

    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.