C/2017 T3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	22 Jul 2018	9.1	0.814 AU	1.405 AU	06h51m	-09°19'	34.8°	45.4°	211°
Nearest approach	3 Aug 2018	9.2	0.846 AU	1.343 AU	08h09m	-20°00'	39.0°	49.0°	197°
Today	8 May 2026	29.6	21.285 AU	20.575 AU	16h06m	+26°21'	133.7°	2.0°	202°

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 9.3 + 5 log[∆] + 10.4 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 T3 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9994390
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.8136200
    i (Inclination)                 : 88.17570
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 230.14840
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 246.69680
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 234.37533
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -66.62947
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458321.70210
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 55231.66

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-05-07 00:00 UT   16 07 15.3   +26 19 19    20.568   21.277  133.5    2.0   204   29.6 
2026-05-08 00:00 UT   16 07 03.7   +26 20 27    20.572   21.282  133.6    2.0   203   29.6 
2026-05-08 15:53 UT   16 06 55.9   +26 21 10    20.575   21.285  133.7    2.0   202   29.6 
2026-05-09 00:00 UT   16 06 51.9   +26 21 32    20.576   21.287  133.7    2.0   202   29.6 
2026-05-10 00:00 UT   16 06 40.1   +26 22 36    20.581   21.292  133.8    2.0   200   29.7 
2026-05-11 00:00 UT   16 06 28.3   +26 23 38    20.585   21.297  133.8    2.0   199   29.7 
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   16 06 16.4   +26 24 37    20.590   21.302  133.8    2.0   197   29.7 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   16 06 04.4   +26 25 35    20.595   21.307  133.8    2.0   196   29.7 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   16 05 52.4   +26 26 30    20.600   21.313  133.8    2.0   195   29.7 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   16 05 40.4   +26 27 23    20.605   21.318  133.8    2.0   193   29.7 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   16 05 28.3   +26 28 15    20.611   21.323  133.7    2.0   192   29.7 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   16 05 16.2   +26 29 04    20.616   21.328  133.7    2.0   190   29.7 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   16 05 04.1   +26 29 50    20.622   21.333  133.6    2.0   189   29.7 

    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.