C/2019 N1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Nov 2020	12.8	1.703 AU	2.415 AU	13h55m	-21°45'	34.9°	19.4°	277°
Nearest approach	7 Feb 2021	12.7	1.925 AU	1.921 AU	15h23m	-73°44'	75.4°	29.7°	274°
Today	8 Apr 2026	23.3	15.647 AU	16.551 AU	01h16m	-17°15'	24.6°	1.5°	175°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.4 + 5 log[∆] + 6.6 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 N1 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9981760
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7027640
    i (Inclination)                 : 82.60130
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 13.47790
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 193.34090
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 15.22704
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.22780
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459183.91080
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 28522.95

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 08
    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
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   01 16 03.3   -17 18 56    16.544   15.637   24.2    1.5   171   23.3 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   01 16 16.6   -17 17 14    16.548   15.643   24.4    1.5   174   23.3 
2026-04-08 18:37 UT   01 16 27.0   -17 15 56    16.551   15.647   24.6    1.5   175   23.3 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   01 16 30.0   -17 15 34    16.552   15.649   24.7    1.5   176   23.3 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   01 16 43.3   -17 13 55    16.556   15.654   25.0    1.5   178   23.3 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   01 16 56.7   -17 12 17    16.559   15.660   25.3    1.6   180   23.3 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   01 17 10.0   -17 10 42    16.563   15.666   25.7    1.6   182   23.3 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   01 17 23.3   -17 09 08    16.566   15.672   26.0    1.6   184   23.3 
2026-04-14 00:00 UT   01 17 36.6   -17 07 35    16.568   15.677   26.4    1.6   186   23.3 
2026-04-15 00:00 UT   01 17 49.9   -17 06 04    16.571   15.683   26.9    1.7   187   23.3 
2026-04-16 00:00 UT   01 18 03.2   -17 04 35    16.573   15.689   27.3    1.7   189   23.3 
2026-04-17 00:00 UT   01 18 16.4   -17 03 07    16.575   15.695   27.8    1.7   191   23.3 
2026-04-18 00:00 UT   01 18 29.6   -17 01 41    16.577   15.700   28.3    1.7   193   23.3 

    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.