C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	15 Mar 2020	8.1	0.838 AU	1.475 AU	00h04m	+30°32'	32.9°	40.2°	10°
Nearest approach	2 May 2020	9.8	1.208 AU	1.106 AU	05h48m	+82°42'	69.5°	51.4°	49°
Today	31 Oct 2024	31.0	14.713 AU	15.588 AU	13h49m	-40°29'	27.3°	1.8°	197°

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 Y1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9963515
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8378025
            i (Inclination)                 : 73.35343
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 31.36531
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 57.49437
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 55.57237
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 53.90044
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458924.05444
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 3479.69

            Epoch                           : 2020 Dec 17
            Reference                       : MPEC 2020-SI8

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years); Liller
        

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 (13.70 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.38 + 5 log[∆] + 14.30 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   13 49 40.5   -40 29 21    15.588   14.713   27.3    1.8   197   31.0 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   13 49 41.3   -40 29 26    15.588   14.713   27.3    1.8   197   31.0 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   13 49 58.8   -40 31 11    15.594   14.719   27.2    1.8   199   31.0 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   13 50 17.1   -40 33 03    15.600   14.725   27.2    1.8   201   31.0 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   13 50 35.4   -40 34 57    15.606   14.731   27.2    1.8   203   31.1 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   13 50 53.6   -40 36 52    15.612   14.737   27.2    1.8   205   31.1 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   13 51 11.7   -40 38 48    15.617   14.743   27.2    1.8   207   31.1 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   13 51 29.7   -40 40 45    15.623   14.749   27.3    1.8   209   31.1 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   13 51 47.7   -40 42 44    15.628   14.755   27.4    1.8   211   31.1 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   13 52 05.6   -40 44 45    15.632   14.762   27.6    1.8   213   31.1 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   13 52 23.5   -40 46 46    15.637   14.768   27.7    1.8   215   31.1 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   13 52 41.2   -40 48 49    15.641   14.774   27.9    1.8   217   31.1 

    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.