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	21 Dec 2024	31.2	15.024 AU	15.609 AU	14h02m	-42°27'	52.0°	3.0°	268°

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
2024-12-21 00:00 UT   14 02 41.0   -42 26 02    15.612   15.020   51.5    2.9   268   31.2 
2024-12-21 15:02 UT   14 02 47.4   -42 27 39    15.609   15.024   52.0    3.0   268   31.2 
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   14 02 51.2   -42 28 36    15.607   15.026   52.3    3.0   269   31.2 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   14 03 01.1   -42 31 10    15.601   15.032   53.1    3.0   269   31.2 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   14 03 10.8   -42 33 44    15.596   15.038   53.9    3.0   270   31.2 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   14 03 20.3   -42 36 18    15.590   15.044   54.7    3.1   271   31.2 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   14 03 29.4   -42 38 52    15.585   15.050   55.5    3.1   271   31.2 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   14 03 38.2   -42 41 27    15.579   15.056   56.3    3.1   272   31.2 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   14 03 46.8   -42 44 01    15.573   15.062   57.1    3.1   273   31.2 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   14 03 55.1   -42 46 35    15.566   15.068   58.0    3.2   273   31.2 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   14 04 03.1   -42 49 09    15.560   15.074   58.8    3.2   274   31.2 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   14 04 10.7   -42 51 43    15.553   15.080   59.6    3.2   274   31.2 

    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.