C/2019 O3 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	23 Jul 2020	16.4	8.920 AU	8.275 AU	19h24m	+32°03'	126.7°	5.2°	166°
Perihelion	9 Mar 2021	16.6	8.821 AU	9.203 AU	19h42m	+36°12'	64.5°	5.8°	297°
Today	26 Dec 2024	19.6	11.795 AU	11.379 AU	12h17m	+75°09'	112.8°	4.4°	275°

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)                : 1.0034500
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8211780
            i (Inclination)                 : 89.80140
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 300.46810
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 60.11760
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 300.81372
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.11700
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459282.54050

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 25
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-TP3

            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 -7.35 + 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
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   12 17 38.5   +75 07 10    11.379   11.793  112.6    4.4   276   19.6 
2024-12-26 13:46 UT   12 17 22.6   +75 09 42    11.379   11.795  112.8    4.4   275   19.6 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   12 17 10.5   +75 11 35    11.378   11.796  112.9    4.4   275   19.6 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   12 16 40.8   +75 15 60    11.378   11.800  113.2    4.4   274   19.6 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   12 16 09.6   +75 20 25    11.377   11.803  113.4    4.4   272   19.6 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   12 15 36.6   +75 24 51    11.377   11.807  113.7    4.4   271   19.6 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   12 15 02.0   +75 29 16    11.377   11.811  114.0    4.4   270   19.6 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   12 14 25.7   +75 33 41    11.377   11.814  114.2    4.4   269   19.6 
2025-01-02 00:00 UT   12 13 47.6   +75 38 05    11.377   11.818  114.4    4.3   267   19.6 
2025-01-03 00:00 UT   12 13 07.8   +75 42 28    11.377   11.821  114.6    4.3   266   19.6 
2025-01-04 00:00 UT   12 12 26.2   +75 46 51    11.378   11.825  114.9    4.3   265   19.6 
2025-01-05 00:00 UT   12 11 42.9   +75 51 13    11.378   11.828  115.1    4.3   263   19.6 

    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.