C/2019 L2 (NEOWISE)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	4 Apr 2019	20.1	1.618 AU	2.579 AU	00h01m	+06°09'	12.7°	7.8°	272°
Nearest approach	11 Jul 2019	19.6	2.042 AU	1.256 AU	20h12m	+28°36'	127.6°	23.2°	196°
Today	9 May 2026	34.5	17.513 AU	16.624 AU	13h20m	-03°13'	150.8°	1.6°	121°

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. The light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (16.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 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 L2 (NEOWISE) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9375610
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6179900
    i (Inclination)                 : 152.10580
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 12.60520
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 18.92590
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 355.74612
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 8.72787
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458578.18220
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 131.91

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   13 20 56.4   -03 15 08    16.604   17.506  152.4    1.5   121   34.5 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   13 20 43.2   -03 14 08    16.616   17.510  151.4    1.6   121   34.5 
2026-05-09 15:05 UT   13 20 34.9   -03 13 31    16.624   17.513  150.8    1.6   121   34.5 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   13 20 30.0   -03 13 09    16.629   17.514  150.4    1.6   121   34.5 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   13 20 17.0   -03 12 10    16.641   17.519  149.4    1.7   120   34.5 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   13 20 04.1   -03 11 13    16.654   17.523  148.4    1.7   120   34.5 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   13 19 51.4   -03 10 17    16.667   17.528  147.4    1.8   120   34.5 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   13 19 38.8   -03 09 21    16.681   17.532  146.4    1.8   119   34.5 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   13 19 26.3   -03 08 27    16.695   17.536  145.4    1.9   119   34.6 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   13 19 13.9   -03 07 34    16.708   17.541  144.4    1.9   119   34.6 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   13 19 01.7   -03 06 42    16.723   17.545  143.4    2.0   119   34.6 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   13 18 49.7   -03 05 51    16.737   17.549  142.4    2.0   118   34.6 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   13 18 37.8   -03 05 01    16.752   17.554  141.4    2.1   118   34.6 

    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.