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°46'	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	18 Aug 2025	22.6	14.274 AU	13.645 AU	01h33m	-20°35'	126.8°	3.3°	269°

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 N1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9982220
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7029730
            i (Inclination)                 : 82.54170
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 13.50730
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 193.34170
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 15.27055
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.22677
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459183.98140
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 29642.44

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 18
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-C45

            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 (7.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.37 + 5 log[∆] + 6.55 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
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   01 33 18.0   -20 33 24    13.649   14.269  126.1    3.3   268   22.6 
2025-08-18 20:06 UT   01 33 09.8   -20 35 06    13.645   14.274  126.8    3.3   269   22.6 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   01 33 08.1   -20 35 25    13.644   14.275  126.9    3.3   269   22.6 
2025-08-20 00:00 UT   01 32 58.0   -20 37 26    13.639   14.281  127.7    3.2   270   22.6 
2025-08-21 00:00 UT   01 32 47.7   -20 39 28    13.635   14.287  128.5    3.2   271   22.6 
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   01 32 37.0   -20 41 29    13.630   14.293  129.3    3.1   271   22.6 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   01 32 26.2   -20 43 30    13.626   14.299  130.1    3.1   272   22.6 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   01 32 15.0   -20 45 31    13.622   14.305  130.9    3.1   273   22.6 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   01 32 03.7   -20 47 32    13.618   14.311  131.7    3.0   274   22.6 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   01 31 52.0   -20 49 32    13.614   14.317  132.5    3.0   275   22.6 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   01 31 40.2   -20 51 33    13.611   14.323  133.3    2.9   276   22.6 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   01 31 28.1   -20 53 33    13.608   14.329  134.1    2.9   277   22.6 

    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.