P/2019 U4 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	16 Apr 2024	28.5	4.623 AU	3.734 AU	15h46m	-12°12'	149.0°	6.4°	270°
Perihelion	28 Apr 2026	23.9	1.844 AU	2.824 AU	01h40m	+10°14'	10.8°	5.9°	248°
Nearest approach	26 Dec 2026	24.5	2.676 AU	1.770 AU	07h43m	+03°10'	151.6°	10.1°	317°

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 P/2019 U4 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4759670
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.8444500
            i (Inclination)                 : 11.69810
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 200.01850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 181.04490
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 201.04170
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.21185
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461158.81190
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 6.60

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 16
            Reference                       : MPC118096

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.895
        

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 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. (19.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2024-04-16 00:00 UT   15 46 32.2   -12 15 08     3.742    4.625  148.2    6.6   271   28.5 
2024-04-16 17:41 UT   15 46 11.1   -12 12 26     3.734    4.623  149.0    6.4   270   28.5 
2024-04-17 00:00 UT   15 46 03.4   -12 11 28     3.731    4.623  149.3    6.4   270   28.5 
2024-04-18 00:00 UT   15 45 33.9   -12 07 46     3.721    4.620  150.3    6.2   269   28.5 
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   15 45 03.8   -12 04 03     3.711    4.618  151.4    6.0   269   28.5 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   15 44 32.9   -12 00 19     3.701    4.615  152.4    5.8   268   28.5 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   15 44 01.4   -11 56 33     3.691    4.613  153.5    5.6   267   28.5 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   15 43 29.3   -11 52 47     3.682    4.610  154.6    5.4   267   28.5 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   15 42 56.5   -11 48 59     3.673    4.608  155.6    5.2   266   28.5 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   15 42 23.1   -11 45 11     3.664    4.605  156.7    5.0   265   28.5 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   15 41 49.2   -11 41 22     3.656    4.602  157.7    4.8   264   28.4 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   15 41 14.7   -11 37 32     3.648    4.600  158.7    4.5   263   28.4 

    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.