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	24 Aug 2026	20.4	11.461 AU	11.728 AU	14h46m	-14°22'	72.3°	4.8°	107°

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)                : 0.8355430
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 9.6797840
    i (Inclination)                 : 93.27170
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 48.26700
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.55850
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 52.21921
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.32859
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460040.33470
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 451.56

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 13
    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
2026-08-23 00:00 UT   14 46 12.8   -14 18 22    11.694   11.456   74.0    4.9   107   20.4 
2026-08-24 00:00 UT   14 46 16.0   -14 20 42    11.713   11.459   73.0    4.8   107   20.4 
2026-08-24 19:38 UT   14 46 18.9   -14 22 37    11.728   11.461   72.3    4.8   107   20.4 
2026-08-25 00:00 UT   14 46 19.6   -14 23 03    11.731   11.461   72.1    4.8   107   20.4 
2026-08-26 00:00 UT   14 46 23.4   -14 25 25    11.750   11.464   71.1    4.8   107   20.4 
2026-08-27 00:00 UT   14 46 27.6   -14 27 47    11.769   11.466   70.2    4.8   107   20.4 
2026-08-28 00:00 UT   14 46 32.1   -14 30 11    11.787   11.469   69.3    4.7   107   20.4 
2026-08-29 00:00 UT   14 46 36.8   -14 32 36    11.806   11.471   68.3    4.7   107   20.4 
2026-08-30 00:00 UT   14 46 41.9   -14 35 01    11.824   11.474   67.4    4.7   107   20.4 
2026-08-31 00:00 UT   14 46 47.2   -14 37 27    11.842   11.477   66.5    4.6   107   20.4 
2026-09-01 00:00 UT   14 46 52.9   -14 39 54    11.860   11.479   65.5    4.6   107   20.4 
2026-09-02 00:00 UT   14 46 58.8   -14 42 22    11.878   11.482   64.6    4.6   107   20.4 
2026-09-03 00:00 UT   14 47 05.0   -14 44 51    11.896   11.484   63.7    4.5   107   20.4 

    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.