C/2020 T2 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 May 2021	10.9	2.170 AU	1.408 AU	13h40m	+29°46'	126.9°	21.8°	151°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2021	10.5	2.052 AU	1.655 AU	14h00m	+05°29'	97.4°	29.4°	113°
Today	18 Aug 2025	39.1	12.602 AU	11.958 AU	01h29m	-21°39'	127.7°	3.6°	270°

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)                : 0.9923400
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0518360
            i (Inclination)                 : 27.84000
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.03100
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 150.33810
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 56.30158
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.36251
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459406.06350
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 4384.00

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 18
            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 -.19 + 5 log[∆] + 30.80 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
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   01 29 26.7   -21 37 15    11.962   12.597  127.0    3.7   269   39.1 
2025-08-18 20:09 UT   01 29 20.0   -21 39 22    11.958   12.602  127.7    3.6   270   39.1 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   01 29 18.7   -21 39 46    11.957   12.603  127.8    3.6   270   39.1 
2025-08-20 00:00 UT   01 29 10.4   -21 42 17    11.953   12.609  128.6    3.6   271   39.1 
2025-08-21 00:00 UT   01 29 01.8   -21 44 48    11.949   12.616  129.4    3.6   272   39.1 
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   01 28 53.0   -21 47 18    11.945   12.622  130.2    3.5   273   39.1 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   01 28 43.8   -21 49 49    11.942   12.628  130.9    3.5   274   39.1 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   01 28 34.4   -21 52 20    11.938   12.634  131.7    3.4   274   39.1 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   01 28 24.7   -21 54 50    11.935   12.640  132.5    3.4   275   39.1 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   01 28 14.7   -21 57 20    11.932   12.647  133.3    3.3   276   39.1 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   01 28 04.4   -21 59 50    11.929   12.653  134.0    3.3   277   39.1 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   01 27 53.9   -22 02 19    11.927   12.659  134.8    3.2   278   39.2 

    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.