C/2020 F2 (ATLAS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 19 Apr 2022 | 17.9 | 8.829 AU | 7.847 AU | 14h00m | +01°16' | 167.2° | 1.4° | 192° |
Perihelion | 13 Jul 2022 | 18.1 | 8.815 AU | 8.838 AU | 13h19m | +04°45' | 85.4° | 6.6° | 112° |
Today | 26 Apr 2024 | 18.5 | 9.585 AU | 8.961 AU | 11h31m | +22°02' | 125.9° | 4.9° | 127° |
C/2020 F2 (ATLAS)- 2024-04-26
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2020 F2 (ATLAS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0045330
q (Perihelion distance) : 8.8150930
i (Inclination) : 163.58950
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 250.30230
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 48.28870
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 203.19973
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 12.17516
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459774.35140
Epoch : 2024 Apr 26
Reference : MPEC 2024-GJ3
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 (4.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 3.96 + 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 11 31 58.7 +22 00 54 8.949 9.583 126.6 4.8 128 18.5
2024-04-26 18:51 UT 11 31 35.1 +22 02 06 8.961 9.585 125.9 4.9 127 18.5
2024-04-27 00:00 UT 11 31 28.8 +22 02 26 8.964 9.586 125.6 4.9 127 18.5
2024-04-28 00:00 UT 11 30 59.2 +22 03 53 8.980 9.588 124.6 5.0 127 18.5
2024-04-29 00:00 UT 11 30 30.1 +22 05 17 8.996 9.590 123.6 5.0 126 18.6
2024-04-30 00:00 UT 11 30 01.4 +22 06 37 9.012 9.592 122.6 5.1 126 18.6
2024-05-01 00:00 UT 11 29 33.1 +22 07 52 9.028 9.595 121.6 5.1 125 18.6
2024-05-02 00:00 UT 11 29 05.2 +22 09 04 9.045 9.597 120.6 5.2 125 18.6
2024-05-03 00:00 UT 11 28 37.8 +22 10 13 9.061 9.599 119.6 5.2 124 18.6
2024-05-04 00:00 UT 11 28 10.8 +22 11 17 9.078 9.601 118.6 5.3 124 18.6
2024-05-05 00:00 UT 11 27 44.2 +22 12 18 9.095 9.604 117.6 5.3 124 18.6
2024-05-06 00:00 UT 11 27 18.1 +22 13 14 9.112 9.606 116.5 5.4 123 18.6
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.