C/2020 T2 (Palomar)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 May 2021	10.9	2.168 AU	1.407 AU	13h39m	+29°56'	126.7°	21.9°	151°
Perihelion	10 Jul 2021	10.5	2.049 AU	1.655 AU	13h59m	+05°31'	97.2°	29.5°	113°
Today	5 Mar 2026	40.7	13.808 AU	14.618 AU	01h12m	-19°38'	34.1°	2.3°	109°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently -.1 + 5 log[∆] + 30.7 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/2020 T2 (Palomar) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9922310
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0487710
    i (Inclination)                 : 27.84300
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 83.00590
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 150.31560
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 56.25609
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 13.37325
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459406.18370
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 4282.45

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 04
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-TD3

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   01 12 08.8   -19 42 39    14.596   13.798   35.2    2.4   107   40.7 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   01 12 24.0   -19 40 07    14.609   13.804   34.5    2.3   108   40.7 
2026-03-05 17:26 UT   01 12 35.2   -19 38 18    14.618   13.808   34.1    2.3   109   40.7 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   01 12 39.4   -19 37 37    14.621   13.810   33.9    2.3   110   40.7 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   01 12 54.9   -19 35 08    14.634   13.816   33.3    2.3   111   40.7 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   01 13 10.5   -19 32 40    14.646   13.822   32.8    2.2   112   40.7 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   01 13 26.2   -19 30 13    14.657   13.828   32.2    2.2   114   40.7 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   01 13 42.0   -19 27 47    14.669   13.834   31.6    2.2   115   40.7 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   01 13 57.9   -19 25 22    14.680   13.840   31.1    2.1   116   40.7 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   01 14 13.9   -19 22 58    14.692   13.846   30.6    2.1   118   40.7 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   01 14 30.1   -19 20 35    14.702   13.852   30.1    2.1   119   40.7 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   01 14 46.3   -19 18 13    14.713   13.858   29.6    2.0   121   40.7 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   01 15 02.6   -19 15 52    14.723   13.864   29.1    2.0   123   40.8 

    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.