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	31 Oct 2024	28.0	16.367 AU	15.851 AU	06h35m	+30°25'	119.8°	3.0°	269°

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/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)
        

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 (10.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.84 + 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.

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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   06 35 36.8   +30 25 49    15.852   16.367  119.7    3.0   269   28.0 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   06 35 36.5   +30 25 50    15.851   16.367  119.8    3.0   269   28.0 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   06 35 29.9   +30 26 10    15.842   16.372  120.7    3.0   269   28.0 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   06 35 22.7   +30 26 31    15.832   16.376  121.8    3.0   269   28.0 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   06 35 15.2   +30 26 52    15.822   16.381  122.8    2.9   269   28.0 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   06 35 07.5   +30 27 14    15.813   16.385  123.8    2.9   269   28.0 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   06 34 59.5   +30 27 35    15.803   16.390  124.8    2.8   268   28.0 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   06 34 51.2   +30 27 56    15.794   16.394  125.8    2.8   268   28.0 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   06 34 42.7   +30 28 17    15.785   16.399  126.8    2.8   268   28.0 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   06 34 33.9   +30 28 38    15.776   16.403  127.9    2.7   268   28.0 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   06 34 24.9   +30 28 58    15.767   16.408  128.9    2.7   268   28.0 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   06 34 15.6   +30 29 19    15.759   16.412  129.9    2.7   267   28.0 

    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.