C/2020 T2 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 May 2021	10.9	2.172 AU	1.408 AU	13h40m	+29°43'	127.0°	21.8°	151°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2021	10.5	2.053 AU	1.656 AU	14h00m	+05°28'	97.5°	29.4°	113°
Today	9 May 2025	38.5	11.968 AU	12.656 AU	01h17m	-19°34'	45.3°	3.4°	217°

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/2020 T2 (Palomar) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9924200
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0531170
            i (Inclination)                 : 27.83920
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.03870
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 150.35270
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 56.32274
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.35606
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459406.06690
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 4457.76

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-TD3

            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[∆] + 8.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -.20 + 5 log[∆] + 30.84 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   01 17 35.8   -19 35 02    12.657   11.966   45.1    3.4   217   38.5 
2025-05-09 06:32 UT   01 17 41.0   -19 34 50    12.656   11.968   45.3    3.4   217   38.5 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   01 17 54.6   -19 34 18    12.654   11.972   45.8    3.5   218   38.6 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   01 18 13.3   -19 33 37    12.651   11.978   46.5    3.5   218   38.6 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   01 18 31.8   -19 32 58    12.647   11.985   47.2    3.5   219   38.6 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   01 18 50.2   -19 32 22    12.644   11.991   48.0    3.6   220   38.6 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   01 19 08.4   -19 31 48    12.640   11.997   48.7    3.6   220   38.6 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   01 19 26.4   -19 31 17    12.636   12.004   49.4    3.7   221   38.6 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   01 19 44.3   -19 30 49    12.632   12.010   50.2    3.7   222   38.6 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   01 20 02.1   -19 30 23    12.628   12.016   50.9    3.7   222   38.6 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   01 20 19.7   -19 29 60    12.623   12.023   51.7    3.8   223   38.6 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   01 20 37.1   -19 29 39    12.619   12.029   52.4    3.8   224   38.6 

    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.