A/2019 O2
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Apr 2023	19.5	9.680 AU	9.208 AU	16h34m	+32°52'	115.4°	5.4°	243°
Nearest approach	16 May 2023	19.5	9.682 AU	9.045 AU	16h14m	+33°23'	126.6°	4.8°	193°
Today	27 Jul 2026	20.3	11.389 AU	11.185 AU	14h46m	-13°23'	99.0°	5.1°	108°

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 displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=9.35; G=.15).

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 A/2019 O2 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8355440
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 9.6797950
    i (Inclination)                 : 93.27280
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 48.26700
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.55870
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 52.22051
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.32831
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460040.33830
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 451.57

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 27
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-M30

    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
2026-07-26 00:00 UT   14 46 57.8   -13 20 17    11.152   11.385  100.7    5.0   108   20.3 
2026-07-27 00:00 UT   14 46 51.5   -13 22 06    11.172   11.387   99.7    5.0   108   20.3 
2026-07-27 17:06 UT   14 46 47.2   -13 23 24    11.185   11.389   99.0    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-07-28 00:00 UT   14 46 45.5   -13 23 56    11.191   11.390   98.7    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-07-29 00:00 UT   14 46 39.9   -13 25 48    11.210   11.392   97.8    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-07-30 00:00 UT   14 46 34.7   -13 27 40    11.230   11.395   96.8    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-07-31 00:00 UT   14 46 29.8   -13 29 34    11.249   11.397   95.8    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-08-01 00:00 UT   14 46 25.2   -13 31 29    11.268   11.400   94.9    5.1   108   20.3 
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   14 46 21.0   -13 33 25    11.288   11.402   93.9    5.1   107   20.3 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   14 46 17.2   -13 35 23    11.307   11.405   93.0    5.1   107   20.3 
2026-08-04 00:00 UT   14 46 13.7   -13 37 21    11.327   11.408   92.0    5.1   107   20.3 
2026-08-05 00:00 UT   14 46 10.6   -13 39 21    11.346   11.410   91.0    5.1   107   20.3 
2026-08-06 00:00 UT   14 46 07.8   -13 41 22    11.366   11.413   90.1    5.1   107   20.3 

    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.