C/2017 M4 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Jan 2019	14.0	3.240 AU	3.957 AU	17h20m	-13°14'	38.0°	10.8°	287°
Nearest approach	13 May 2019	13.3	3.423 AU	2.472 AU	16h00m	-40°08'	156.7°	6.7°	336°
Today	3 Dec 2024	25.3	15.713 AU	15.324 AU	06h26m	-41°47'	111.5°	3.3°	334°

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 M4 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0004400
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.2396810
            i (Inclination)                 : 105.62210
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 66.02370
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 167.46160
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 69.45104
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.06810
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458501.28810

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 02
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-OB6

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (6.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 4.80 + 5 log[∆] + 12.15 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
2024-12-03 00:00 UT   06 26 45.9   -41 47 08    15.323   15.709  111.3    3.4   333   25.3 
2024-12-03 17:13 UT   06 26 30.7   -41 47 42    15.324   15.713  111.5    3.3   334   25.3 
2024-12-04 00:00 UT   06 26 24.7   -41 47 55    15.325   15.714  111.6    3.3   334   25.3 
2024-12-05 00:00 UT   06 26 03.5   -41 48 39    15.327   15.720  111.8    3.3   335   25.3 
2024-12-06 00:00 UT   06 25 42.1   -41 49 19    15.329   15.725  112.0    3.3   336   25.3 
2024-12-07 00:00 UT   06 25 20.5   -41 49 55    15.331   15.731  112.3    3.3   337   25.3 
2024-12-08 00:00 UT   06 24 58.8   -41 50 28    15.333   15.736  112.5    3.3   339   25.3 
2024-12-09 00:00 UT   06 24 37.0   -41 50 56    15.335   15.742  112.7    3.3   340   25.3 
2024-12-10 00:00 UT   06 24 15.1   -41 51 21    15.338   15.747  112.9    3.3   341   25.3 
2024-12-11 00:00 UT   06 23 53.1   -41 51 42    15.340   15.753  113.1    3.3   342   25.3 
2024-12-12 00:00 UT   06 23 31.0   -41 51 60    15.343   15.758  113.3    3.3   343   25.3 
2024-12-13 00:00 UT   06 23 08.7   -41 52 13    15.346   15.764  113.4    3.3   345   25.3 

    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.