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	1 Jun 2026	19.9	11.249 AU	10.318 AU	15h01m	-12°11'	155.4°	2.1°	117°

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)                : 0.8355520
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 9.6798050
    i (Inclination)                 : 93.27710
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 48.26670
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.55900
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 52.22534
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.32771
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460040.34730
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 451.60

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 31
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-K60

    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
2026-05-31 00:00 UT   15 01 49.4   -12 10 20    10.306   11.245  156.8    2.0   118   19.9 
2026-06-01 00:00 UT   15 01 25.9   -12 11 05    10.315   11.248  155.8    2.1   117   19.9 
2026-06-01 08:44 UT   15 01 17.4   -12 11 22    10.318   11.249  155.4    2.1   117   19.9 
2026-06-02 00:00 UT   15 01 02.6   -12 11 51    10.324   11.250  154.8    2.2   116   19.9 
2026-06-03 00:00 UT   15 00 39.4   -12 12 38    10.334   11.253  153.8    2.3   116   19.9 
2026-06-04 00:00 UT   15 00 16.5   -12 13 26    10.343   11.255  152.8    2.4   115   19.9 
2026-06-05 00:00 UT   14 59 53.7   -12 14 14    10.354   11.257  151.7    2.4   115   20.0 
2026-06-06 00:00 UT   14 59 31.2   -12 15 04    10.364   11.260  150.7    2.5   115   20.0 
2026-06-07 00:00 UT   14 59 08.9   -12 15 55    10.375   11.262  149.7    2.6   114   20.0 
2026-06-08 00:00 UT   14 58 46.8   -12 16 46    10.385   11.265  148.7    2.7   114   20.0 
2026-06-09 00:00 UT   14 58 24.9   -12 17 39    10.397   11.267  147.6    2.8   114   20.0 
2026-06-10 00:00 UT   14 58 03.2   -12 18 32    10.408   11.270  146.6    2.8   113   20.0 
2026-06-11 00:00 UT   14 57 41.8   -12 19 27    10.420   11.272  145.6    2.9   113   20.0 

    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.