P/2019 Y3 (Catalina)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Today9 Feb 202516.90.987 AU0.499 AU02h40m-08°17'75.4°75.3°77°
Perihelion3 Mar 202516.00.931 AU0.364 AU03h19m+21°08'69.8°88.6°74°
Nearest approach17 Mar 202515.90.952 AU0.334 AU03h59m+46°55'72.9°87.4°69°
P/2019 Y3 (Catalina)- 2025-02-09
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 P/2019 Y3 (Catalina) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6913560
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.9310290
            i (Inclination)                 : 24.58200
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 139.30850
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 2.54910
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 141.62683
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.06012
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460738.34480
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 5.24

            Epoch                           : 2025 Feb 02
            Reference                       : MPEC 2025-AH4

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.725
        

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 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. (18.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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.