C/2018 L2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	16 Jun 2018	14.5	2.698 AU	1.933 AU	13h52m	-36°28'	129.7°	16.8°	92°
Perihelion	30 Nov 2018	11.6	1.720 AU	2.430 AU	17h31m	+09°40'	35.1°	19.3°	27°
Today	8 May 2024	32.4	15.716 AU	16.618 AU	04h38m	+06°04'	25.8°	1.6°	118°

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 L2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9930000
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7195420
            i (Inclination)                 : 67.20180
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 242.98360
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 56.34950
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 273.18731
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 50.12095
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458453.40690
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 3850.10

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

            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 (10.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 5.59 + 5 log[∆] + 17.27 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
2024-05-08 00:00 UT   04 38 25.7   +06 04 25    16.609   15.711   26.4    1.6   117   32.3 
2024-05-08 19:44 UT   04 38 37.1   +06 04 47    16.618   15.716   25.8    1.6   118   32.4 
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   04 38 39.5   +06 04 52    16.620   15.717   25.7    1.6   118   32.4 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   04 38 53.5   +06 05 18    16.632   15.723   25.0    1.6   119   32.4 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   04 39 07.5   +06 05 44    16.643   15.728   24.3    1.5   121   32.4 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   04 39 21.5   +06 06 08    16.654   15.734   23.6    1.5   122   32.4 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   04 39 35.6   +06 06 32    16.665   15.740   23.0    1.4   124   32.4 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   04 39 49.8   +06 06 55    16.675   15.745   22.3    1.4   126   32.4 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   04 40 04.1   +06 07 18    16.685   15.751   21.7    1.4   128   32.4 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   04 40 18.4   +06 07 39    16.695   15.757   21.1    1.3   129   32.4 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   04 40 32.7   +06 07 59    16.705   15.762   20.5    1.3   131   32.4 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   04 40 47.1   +06 08 19    16.714   15.768   20.0    1.3   133   32.4 

    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.