C/2018 E1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Mar 2018	17.4	2.723 AU	2.740 AU	04h27m	-45°21'	78.6°	20.9°	94°
Perihelion	18 Apr 2018	17.5	2.689 AU	2.868 AU	05h44m	-27°54'	69.7°	20.5°	115°
Today	22 Dec 2024	27.3	16.849 AU	16.981 AU	15h39m	+50°49'	80.6°	3.3°	327°

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/2018 E1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9501030
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.6893810
            i (Inclination)                 : 72.48750
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 146.79020
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 299.27380
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 118.56342
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -56.29063
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458227.05560
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 395.70

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPC114602

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 (10.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.96 + 5 log[∆] + 7.48 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
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   15 39 47.8   +50 49 33    16.981   16.848   80.5    3.3   327   27.3 
2024-12-22 04:54 UT   15 39 52.1   +50 49 53    16.981   16.849   80.6    3.3   327   27.3 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   15 40 08.8   +50 51 11    16.980   16.853   80.9    3.3   327   27.3 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   15 40 29.5   +50 52 52    16.978   16.858   81.3    3.3   326   27.3 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   15 40 50.1   +50 54 36    16.977   16.862   81.7    3.3   325   27.3 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   15 41 10.5   +50 56 23    16.975   16.867   82.0    3.3   324   27.3 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   15 41 30.7   +50 58 13    16.974   16.872   82.4    3.3   323   27.3 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   15 41 50.7   +51 00 05    16.972   16.877   82.8    3.3   322   27.3 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   15 42 10.4   +51 01 60    16.971   16.882   83.2    3.3   321   27.3 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   15 42 30.0   +51 03 57    16.969   16.887   83.5    3.3   320   27.3 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   15 42 49.3   +51 05 58    16.967   16.892   83.9    3.3   320   27.3 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   15 43 08.5   +51 08 01    16.966   16.897   84.3    3.3   319   27.3 

    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.