C/2017 K4 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Jul 2017	16.8	3.244 AU	2.316 AU	16h52m	-36°18'	151.2°	8.7°	71°
Perihelion	7 Jan 2018	16.9	2.664 AU	3.570 AU	20h32m	-15°28'	19.6°	7.1°	67°
Today	24 Feb 2026	28.8	18.451 AU	17.941 AU	06h24m	+29°33'	119.6°	2.7°	96°

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 9.8 + 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/2017 K4 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9072110
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6635700
    i (Inclination)                 : 16.65690
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 298.92790
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 15.35860
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 313.67067
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 4.35404
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458126.44910
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 153.80

    Epoch                           : 2023 Jan 31
    Reference                       : MPC114598

    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
2026-02-23 00:00 UT   06 25 04.5   +29 34 06    17.911   18.444  121.3    2.6    96   28.8 
2026-02-24 00:00 UT   06 24 58.4   +29 33 45    17.930   18.449  120.2    2.7    96   28.8 
2026-02-24 13:59 UT   06 24 54.9   +29 33 32    17.941   18.451  119.6    2.7    96   28.8 
2026-02-25 00:00 UT   06 24 52.4   +29 33 23    17.949   18.453  119.2    2.7    96   28.8 
2026-02-26 00:00 UT   06 24 46.7   +29 33 01    17.968   18.457  118.2    2.7    96   28.8 
2026-02-27 00:00 UT   06 24 41.3   +29 32 38    17.987   18.461  117.2    2.7    96   28.8 
2026-02-28 00:00 UT   06 24 36.1   +29 32 15    18.007   18.465  116.2    2.8    96   28.8 
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   06 24 31.2   +29 31 53    18.026   18.469  115.2    2.8    95   28.8 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   06 24 26.5   +29 31 29    18.046   18.474  114.1    2.8    95   28.8 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   06 24 22.0   +29 31 06    18.065   18.478  113.1    2.8    95   28.8 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   06 24 17.8   +29 30 42    18.085   18.482  112.1    2.8    95   28.8 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   06 24 13.9   +29 30 18    18.105   18.486  111.1    2.9    95   28.8 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   06 24 10.2   +29 29 54    18.125   18.490  110.1    2.9    95   28.8 

    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.