C/2019 Y5 (PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	16 Aug 2019	17.5	4.934 AU	4.919 AU	04h46m	-34°15'	85.0°	11.8°	250°
Nearest approach	9 Nov 2019	17.2	4.978 AU	4.336 AU	03h54m	-35°55'	125.5°	9.3°	343°
Today	12 Jul 2025	20.2	14.914 AU	15.348 AU	02h41m	+70°21'	63.0°	3.5°	280°

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 Y5 (PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9928150
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.9340120
            i (Inclination)                 : 82.77460
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 51.76720
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 303.66570
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.07375
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -55.65719
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458712.05580
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 17995.34

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 11
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-A50

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

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 (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 13.80 + 5 log[∆] + .38 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
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   02 41 45.8   +70 20 05    15.348   14.913   62.9    3.5   280   20.2 
2025-07-12 05:44 UT   02 41 49.1   +70 21 01    15.348   14.914   63.0    3.5   280   20.2 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   02 41 59.5   +70 23 60    15.346   14.918   63.3    3.5   280   20.2 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   02 42 12.5   +70 27 55    15.343   14.923   63.8    3.5   279   20.2 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   02 42 25.0   +70 31 50    15.341   14.928   64.3    3.5   278   20.2 
2025-07-16 00:00 UT   02 42 36.8   +70 35 46    15.338   14.933   64.8    3.5   277   20.2 
2025-07-17 00:00 UT   02 42 48.1   +70 39 43    15.335   14.938   65.2    3.5   276   20.2 
2025-07-18 00:00 UT   02 42 58.7   +70 43 40    15.332   14.944   65.7    3.6   275   20.2 
2025-07-19 00:00 UT   02 43 08.7   +70 47 38    15.329   14.949   66.2    3.6   275   20.2 
2025-07-20 00:00 UT   02 43 18.1   +70 51 35    15.326   14.954   66.7    3.6   274   20.2 
2025-07-21 00:00 UT   02 43 26.8   +70 55 34    15.323   14.959   67.2    3.6   273   20.2 
2025-07-22 00:00 UT   02 43 34.8   +70 59 32    15.320   14.964   67.7    3.6   272   20.2 

    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.