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	13 Jul 2026	20.2	11.354 AU	10.922 AU	14h48m	-12°59'	112.7°	4.7°	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)                : 0.8355470
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 9.6797960
    i (Inclination)                 : 93.27380
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 48.26690
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.55880
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 52.22160
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.32814
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460040.34040
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 451.58

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 12
    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
2026-07-12 00:00 UT   14 49 04.3   -12 56 58    10.892   11.349  114.4    4.7   109   20.2 
2026-07-13 00:00 UT   14 48 52.9   -12 58 30    10.910   11.352  113.4    4.7   109   20.2 
2026-07-13 16:01 UT   14 48 45.5   -12 59 32    10.922   11.354  112.7    4.7   108   20.2 
2026-07-14 00:00 UT   14 48 41.9   -13 00 03    10.928   11.354  112.4    4.7   108   20.2 
2026-07-15 00:00 UT   14 48 31.2   -13 01 37    10.946   11.357  111.4    4.8   108   20.2 
2026-07-16 00:00 UT   14 48 20.9   -13 03 13    10.964   11.360  110.4    4.8   108   20.2 
2026-07-17 00:00 UT   14 48 11.0   -13 04 50    10.983   11.362  109.5    4.8   108   20.2 
2026-07-18 00:00 UT   14 48 01.4   -13 06 28    11.001   11.365  108.5    4.9   108   20.2 
2026-07-19 00:00 UT   14 47 52.2   -13 08 07    11.020   11.367  107.5    4.9   108   20.3 
2026-07-20 00:00 UT   14 47 43.3   -13 09 48    11.039   11.370  106.5    4.9   108   20.3 
2026-07-21 00:00 UT   14 47 34.8   -13 11 30    11.057   11.372  105.5    4.9   108   20.3 
2026-07-22 00:00 UT   14 47 26.7   -13 13 13    11.076   11.375  104.6    5.0   108   20.3 
2026-07-23 00:00 UT   14 47 18.9   -13 14 57    11.095   11.377  103.6    5.0   108   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.