P/2019 T5 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	3 Aug 2019	18.6	1.526 AU	2.264 AU	06h30m	+19°40'	33.6°	21.6°	268°
Nearest approach	27 Jan 2020	20.6	2.562 AU	2.030 AU	10h54m	-41°46'	111.6°	20.9°	324°
Today	31 Aug 2026	31.8	13.075 AU	13.166 AU	15h51m	-22°01'	82.7°	4.4°	102°

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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (15.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

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 P/2019 T5 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8094990
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5262580
    i (Inclination)                 : 33.48490
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 247.61710
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 189.65530
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 255.69311
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.30941
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458699.11600
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 22.68

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194163

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-30 00:00 UT   15 51 19.8   -22 02 06    13.137   13.072   84.1    4.4   102   31.8 
2026-08-31 00:00 UT   15 51 24.7   -22 01 53    13.156   13.074   83.2    4.4   102   31.8 
2026-08-31 13:08 UT   15 51 27.5   -22 01 46    13.166   13.075   82.7    4.4   102   31.8 
2026-09-01 00:00 UT   15 51 29.9   -22 01 41    13.174   13.076   82.2    4.4   102   31.8 
2026-09-02 00:00 UT   15 51 35.4   -22 01 30    13.193   13.078   81.3    4.4   102   31.8 
2026-09-03 00:00 UT   15 51 41.3   -22 01 20    13.211   13.080   80.3    4.4   103   31.8 
2026-09-04 00:00 UT   15 51 47.4   -22 01 10    13.230   13.082   79.4    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-05 00:00 UT   15 51 53.8   -22 01 02    13.248   13.084   78.4    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-06 00:00 UT   15 52 00.5   -22 00 55    13.266   13.086   77.5    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-07 00:00 UT   15 52 07.5   -22 00 49    13.285   13.087   76.6    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-08 00:00 UT   15 52 14.7   -22 00 43    13.303   13.089   75.6    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-09 00:00 UT   15 52 22.3   -22 00 39    13.321   13.091   74.7    4.3   103   31.8 
2026-09-10 00:00 UT   15 52 30.2   -22 00 35    13.339   13.093   73.7    4.2   103   31.8 

    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.