C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Mar 2020	8.1	0.832 AU	1.481 AU	00h10m	+30°43'	32.3°	39.7°	10°
Nearest approach	3 May 2020	9.9	1.196 AU	1.112 AU	05h51m	+81°37'	68.5°	51.7°	49°
Today	6 Apr 2026	33.2	17.740 AU	16.976 AU	13h49m	-46°43'	138.6°	2.1°	342°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.5 + 5 log[∆] + 14.9 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 C/2019 Y1 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9966800
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8322620
    i (Inclination)                 : 73.26730
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 31.28250
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 57.44230
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 55.55411
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 53.81960
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458925.94540
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 3969.02

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   13 49 53.2   -46 44 20    16.979   17.729  137.4    2.2   339   33.2 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   13 49 34.7   -46 44 07    16.978   17.735  138.0    2.2   341   33.2 
2026-04-06 22:23 UT   13 49 17.3   -46 43 52    16.976   17.740  138.6    2.1   342   33.2 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   13 49 16.1   -46 43 51    16.976   17.740  138.6    2.1   342   33.2 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   13 48 57.4   -46 43 32    16.975   17.746  139.2    2.1   343   33.2 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   13 48 38.6   -46 43 11    16.975   17.751  139.7    2.1   345   33.2 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   13 48 19.8   -46 42 48    16.974   17.757  140.3    2.1   346   33.2 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   13 48 01.0   -46 42 22    16.974   17.762  140.8    2.0   348   33.2 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   13 47 42.1   -46 41 53    16.974   17.768  141.3    2.0   349   33.2 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   13 47 23.1   -46 41 23    16.974   17.773  141.8    2.0   351   33.2 
2026-04-14 00:00 UT   13 47 04.1   -46 40 50    16.974   17.779  142.3    2.0   352   33.2 
2026-04-15 00:00 UT   13 46 45.1   -46 40 14    16.975   17.784  142.7    2.0   354   33.2 
2026-04-16 00:00 UT   13 46 26.1   -46 39 37    16.976   17.790  143.2    1.9   355   33.2 

    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.