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	26 Oct 2026	31.9	13.179 AU	14.030 AU	16h03m	-22°12'	30.0°	2.2°	104°

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
2026-10-25 00:00 UT   16 02 32.6   -22 11 23    14.011   13.176   31.8    2.3   104   31.9 
2026-10-26 00:00 UT   16 02 50.4   -22 11 51    14.021   13.178   30.9    2.2   104   31.9 
2026-10-26 21:51 UT   16 03 06.6   -22 12 16    14.030   13.179   30.0    2.2   104   31.9 
2026-10-27 00:00 UT   16 03 08.2   -22 12 19    14.031   13.179   29.9    2.2   104   31.9 
2026-10-28 00:00 UT   16 03 26.2   -22 12 47    14.041   13.181   29.0    2.1   104   31.9 
2026-10-29 00:00 UT   16 03 44.4   -22 13 16    14.051   13.183   28.1    2.0   104   31.9 
2026-10-30 00:00 UT   16 04 02.6   -22 13 45    14.061   13.185   27.2    2.0   104   31.9 
2026-10-31 00:00 UT   16 04 21.0   -22 14 15    14.070   13.187   26.2    1.9   104   31.9 
2026-11-01 00:00 UT   16 04 39.5   -22 14 44    14.079   13.188   25.3    1.8   104   31.9 
2026-11-02 00:00 UT   16 04 58.1   -22 15 14    14.088   13.190   24.4    1.8   104   31.9 
2026-11-03 00:00 UT   16 05 16.8   -22 15 45    14.096   13.192   23.5    1.7   104   31.9 
2026-11-04 00:00 UT   16 05 35.6   -22 16 15    14.104   13.194   22.5    1.7   104   32.0 
2026-11-05 00:00 UT   16 05 54.5   -22 16 46    14.113   13.196   21.6    1.6   105   32.0 

    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.