C/2018 V2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Nov 2018	19.9	2.499 AU	1.564 AU	03h04m	-08°19'	155.2°	9.6°	350°
Perihelion	25 Nov 2018	20.1	2.491 AU	1.706 AU	01h43m	-10°35'	133.6°	16.7°	48°
Today	26 Apr 2024	32.1	13.927 AU	13.271 AU	17h36m	-01°32'	129.0°	3.2°	254°

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 V2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9010110
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.4913070
            i (Inclination)                 : 159.16620
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 357.13250
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 319.16650
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 36.06007
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.44736
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458447.95910
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 126.26

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 25
            Reference                       : MPC115884

            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. (15.00 + 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
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   17 36 42.0   -01 32 41    13.274   13.925  128.6    3.2   254   32.1 
2024-04-26 11:07 UT   17 36 35.3   -01 32 03    13.271   13.927  129.0    3.2   254   32.1 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   17 36 27.4   -01 31 20    13.267   13.929  129.5    3.2   253   32.1 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   17 36 12.5   -01 29 60    13.260   13.934  130.4    3.2   253   32.1 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   17 35 57.4   -01 28 41    13.254   13.939  131.3    3.1   252   32.1 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   17 35 42.1   -01 27 23    13.247   13.944  132.2    3.1   251   32.1 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   17 35 26.5   -01 26 06    13.241   13.949  133.1    3.0   251   32.1 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   17 35 10.7   -01 24 50    13.235   13.954  134.0    3.0   250   32.1 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   17 34 54.7   -01 23 35    13.229   13.958  134.9    2.9   249   32.1 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   17 34 38.5   -01 22 21    13.223   13.963  135.7    2.9   248   32.1 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   17 34 22.0   -01 21 08    13.218   13.968  136.6    2.8   248   32.1 
2024-05-06 00:00 UT   17 34 05.4   -01 19 56    13.213   13.973  137.5    2.8   247   32.1 

    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.