C/2019 O3 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	23 Jul 2020	16.4	8.918 AU	8.274 AU	19h24m	+32°05'	126.7°	5.2°	166°
Perihelion	8 Mar 2021	16.6	8.821 AU	9.208 AU	19h42m	+36°06'	64.1°	5.8°	298°
Today	2 Oct 2025	20.6	12.830 AU	13.083 AU	10h28m	+65°41'	73.2°	4.3°	327°

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 O3 (Palomar) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0023580
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8205230
            i (Inclination)                 : 89.79310
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 300.48040
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 60.09150
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 300.84008
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.09085
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459281.57750

            Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 01
            Reference                       : MPC182878

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (3.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -7.34 + 5 log[∆] + 20.20 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
2025-10-02 00:00 UT   10 28 14.4   +65 41 03    13.088   12.826   72.7    4.3   327   20.6 
2025-10-02 21:22 UT   10 28 35.6   +65 41 20    13.083   12.830   73.2    4.3   327   20.6 
2025-10-03 00:00 UT   10 28 38.2   +65 41 22    13.082   12.830   73.2    4.3   327   20.6 
2025-10-04 00:00 UT   10 29 01.7   +65 41 45    13.077   12.834   73.8    4.3   326   20.6 
2025-10-05 00:00 UT   10 29 24.8   +65 42 11    13.071   12.838   74.4    4.3   325   20.6 
2025-10-06 00:00 UT   10 29 47.5   +65 42 40    13.064   12.842   75.0    4.3   325   20.6 
2025-10-07 00:00 UT   10 30 09.9   +65 43 13    13.058   12.845   75.5    4.3   324   20.6 
2025-10-08 00:00 UT   10 30 31.8   +65 43 49    13.052   12.849   76.1    4.3   323   20.6 
2025-10-09 00:00 UT   10 30 53.4   +65 44 29    13.046   12.853   76.7    4.3   322   20.6 
2025-10-10 00:00 UT   10 31 14.5   +65 45 12    13.039   12.857   77.3    4.3   322   20.6 
2025-10-11 00:00 UT   10 31 35.2   +65 45 59    13.033   12.861   77.9    4.4   321   20.6 
2025-10-12 00:00 UT   10 31 55.5   +65 46 49    13.027   12.864   78.5    4.4   320   20.6 

    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.