C/2020 F2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	19 Apr 2022	18.0	8.827 AU	7.845 AU	14h00m	+01°17'	167.2°	1.4°	193°
Perihelion	13 Jul 2022	18.2	8.814 AU	8.822 AU	13h19m	+04°45'	86.2°	6.6°	112°
Today	23 Dec 2024	19.1	10.194 AU	9.873 AU	11h30m	+21°43'	106.4°	5.3°	289°

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)                : 1.0035040
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 8.8138290
            i (Inclination)                 : 163.58960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 250.30490
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 48.25710
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 203.23404
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.16901
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459773.54980

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 21
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-PC5

            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 4.06 + 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
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   11 30 13.7   +21 42 38     9.876   10.194  106.2    5.3   289   19.1 
2024-12-23 05:25 UT   11 30 10.6   +21 43 24     9.873   10.194  106.4    5.3   289   19.1 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   11 29 59.6   +21 46 02     9.862   10.196  107.2    5.3   289   19.1 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   11 29 45.0   +21 49 28     9.848   10.199  108.2    5.3   289   19.1 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   11 29 29.9   +21 52 56     9.835   10.202  109.3    5.2   288   19.1 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   11 29 14.3   +21 56 27     9.821   10.205  110.3    5.2   288   19.1 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   11 28 58.3   +22 00 01     9.808   10.208  111.4    5.1   287   19.1 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   11 28 41.8   +22 03 36     9.795   10.210  112.4    5.1   287   19.1 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   11 28 24.8   +22 07 14     9.782   10.213  113.5    5.1   287   19.1 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   11 28 07.4   +22 10 54     9.769   10.216  114.5    5.0   286   19.1 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   11 27 49.5   +22 14 36     9.756   10.219  115.6    5.0   286   19.1 
2025-01-02 00:00 UT   11 27 31.1   +22 18 20     9.743   10.222  116.6    4.9   285   19.1 

    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.