C/2019 O3 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	23 Jul 2020	16.4	8.921 AU	8.276 AU	19h24m	+32°02'	126.7°	5.2°	166°
Perihelion	9 Mar 2021	16.6	8.821 AU	9.200 AU	19h42m	+36°15'	64.7°	5.8°	297°
Today	9 May 2024	18.9	11.004 AU	11.178 AU	11h47m	+82°20'	77.5°	5.1°	132°

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)                : 1.0040770
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8213870
            i (Inclination)                 : 89.80980
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 300.45150
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 60.13000
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 300.78266
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.12945
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459282.99850

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-JC2

            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[∆] + 20.21 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   11 49 05.0   +82 24 11    11.171   11.001   77.7    5.1   133   18.9 
2024-05-09 16:08 UT   11 47 30.2   +82 20 52    11.178   11.004   77.5    5.1   132   18.9 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   11 46 44.8   +82 19 14    11.181   11.005   77.4    5.1   131   18.9 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   11 44 29.8   +82 14 11    11.190   11.008   77.0    5.1   130   18.9 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   11 42 19.9   +82 09 03    11.200   11.011   76.7    5.1   128   19.0 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   11 40 15.0   +82 03 49    11.210   11.014   76.3    5.1   127   19.0 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   11 38 15.0   +81 58 31    11.219   11.018   75.9    5.1   126   19.0 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   11 36 19.8   +81 53 09    11.229   11.021   75.6    5.1   124   19.0 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   11 34 29.3   +81 47 42    11.238   11.024   75.2    5.1   123   19.0 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   11 32 43.4   +81 42 11    11.248   11.028   74.9    5.1   121   19.0 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   11 31 01.9   +81 36 36    11.257   11.031   74.5    5.1   120   19.0 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   11 29 24.9   +81 30 58    11.267   11.034   74.2    5.1   119   19.0 

    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.