P/2019 T5 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	3 Aug 2019	18.6	1.524 AU	2.262 AU	06h30m	+19°40'	33.6°	21.6°	268°
Nearest approach	27 Jan 2020	20.6	2.562 AU	2.031 AU	10h55m	-41°48'	111.6°	20.9°	324°
Today	20 Feb 2026	31.6	12.688 AU	12.754 AU	16h21m	-24°25'	84.0°	4.4°	279°

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)                : 0.8097110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5241130
    i (Inclination)                 : 33.48560
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 247.61430
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 189.63650
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 255.67443
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -5.29924
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458699.12310
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 22.67

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

    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
2026-02-19 00:00 UT   16 21 29.5   -24 25 10    12.779   12.685   82.3    4.4   279   31.6 
2026-02-20 00:00 UT   16 21 34.4   -24 25 15    12.764   12.687   83.3    4.4   279   31.6 
2026-02-20 16:09 UT   16 21 37.5   -24 25 18    12.754   12.688   84.0    4.4   279   31.6 
2026-02-21 00:00 UT   16 21 38.9   -24 25 19    12.749   12.689   84.3    4.4   279   31.6 
2026-02-22 00:00 UT   16 21 43.1   -24 25 22    12.734   12.691   85.3    4.5   279   31.6 
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   16 21 46.9   -24 25 25    12.719   12.693   86.3    4.5   279   31.6 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   16 21 50.3   -24 25 26    12.704   12.696   87.3    4.5   279   31.6 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   16 21 53.5   -24 25 27    12.689   12.698   88.3    4.5   279   31.6 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   16 21 56.2   -24 25 27    12.674   12.700   89.3    4.5   279   31.6 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   16 21 58.7   -24 25 27    12.659   12.702   90.3    4.5   280   31.6 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   16 22 00.8   -24 25 25    12.644   12.704   91.2    4.5   280   31.5 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   16 22 02.5   -24 25 23    12.629   12.706   92.2    4.5   280   31.5 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   16 22 03.9   -24 25 20    12.614   12.708   93.2    4.5   280   31.5 

    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.