C/2018 O1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	1 Aug 2018	18.3	1.610 AU	0.703 AU	19h17m	+17°23'	138.5°	24.7°	147°
Perihelion	2 Sep 2018	19.5	1.555 AU	1.299 AU	16h10m	-11°55'	83.7°	40.2°	100°
Today	24 Apr 2024	34.7	15.214 AU	15.088 AU	08h29m	-01°11'	95.3°	3.8°	103°

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 O1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9446450
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.5547720
            i (Inclination)                 : 153.98120
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 87.84050
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 162.71900
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 103.45998
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 7.48747
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458363.53710
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 148.86

            Epoch                           : 2023 Sep 24
            Reference                       : MPC114603

            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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (17.00 + 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
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   08 29 20.8   -01 11 43    15.078   15.212   95.7    3.8   103   34.7 
2024-04-24 10:42 UT   08 29 20.0   -01 11 00    15.088   15.214   95.3    3.8   103   34.7 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   08 29 19.2   -01 10 07    15.099   15.217   94.8    3.8   103   34.7 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   08 29 17.9   -01 08 33    15.121   15.222   93.9    3.8   103   34.7 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   08 29 16.8   -01 06 59    15.142   15.227   93.0    3.8   104   34.7 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   08 29 16.0   -01 05 27    15.163   15.232   92.0    3.8   104   34.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   08 29 15.5   -01 03 55    15.184   15.237   91.1    3.8   104   34.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   08 29 15.2   -01 02 25    15.205   15.242   90.2    3.8   105   34.7 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   08 29 15.2   -01 00 57    15.226   15.247   89.3    3.8   105   34.7 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   08 29 15.4   +00 59 29    15.247   15.252   88.3    3.8   105   34.7 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   08 29 15.9   +00 58 03    15.269   15.257   87.4    3.8   106   34.8 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   08 29 16.7   +00 56 38    15.290   15.262   86.5    3.8   106   34.8 

    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.