C/2019 N1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Nov 2020	12.8	1.704 AU	2.413 AU	13h56m	-21°51'	35.2°	19.5°	277°
Nearest approach	7 Feb 2021	12.7	1.926 AU	1.920 AU	15h24m	-73°45'	75.5°	29.7°	274°
Today	9 May 2024	21.7	11.333 AU	12.011 AU	01h34m	-22°29'	46.0°	3.7°	212°

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)                : 0.9985050
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7043340
            i (Inclination)                 : 82.45470
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 13.55620
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 193.37410
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 15.34438
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.25618
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459184.37210
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 38491.98

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 09
            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[∆] + 6.54 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   01 34 04.1   -22 30 05    12.012   11.328   45.5    3.6   211   21.7 
2024-05-09 17:53 UT   01 34 16.7   -22 29 19    12.011   11.333   46.0    3.7   212   21.7 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   01 34 20.9   -22 29 03    12.010   11.335   46.2    3.7   212   21.7 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   01 34 37.6   -22 28 04    12.008   11.342   46.8    3.7   213   21.7 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   01 34 54.1   -22 27 08    12.006   11.348   47.5    3.8   213   21.7 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   01 35 10.4   -22 26 15    12.003   11.355   48.2    3.8   214   21.7 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   01 35 26.7   -22 25 25    12.001   11.361   48.8    3.8   215   21.7 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   01 35 42.7   -22 24 38    11.998   11.368   49.5    3.9   216   21.7 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   01 35 58.6   -22 23 54    11.995   11.375   50.2    3.9   217   21.7 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   01 36 14.4   -22 23 12    11.992   11.381   50.9    4.0   217   21.7 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   01 36 30.0   -22 22 34    11.988   11.388   51.6    4.0   218   21.7 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   01 36 45.4   -22 21 59    11.985   11.395   52.3    4.0   219   21.7 

    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.