C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	25 Oct 2020	8.3	1.274 AU	0.409 AU	05h07m	-17°33'	125.2°	39.6°	300°
Nearest approach	14 Nov 2020	8.2	1.308 AU	0.362 AU	05h23m	+04°39'	146.9°	24.4°	297°
Today	30 Apr 2025	32.4	13.279 AU	12.474 AU	13h04m	+17°11'	141.6°	2.7°	145°

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 M3 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9533120
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2744640
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.47100
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.17300
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.66200
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.98800
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.95493
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.30540
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 142.62

            Epoch                           : 2025 Apr 29
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-H30

            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 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 (14.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.52 + 5 log[∆] + 16.42 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
2025-04-30 00:00 UT   13 04 56.7   +17 11 42    12.467   13.276  142.0    2.7   146   32.4 
2025-04-30 12:18 UT   13 04 49.1   +17 11 56    12.474   13.279  141.6    2.7   145   32.4 
2025-05-01 00:00 UT   13 04 41.9   +17 12 08    12.481   13.281  141.2    2.7   145   32.4 
2025-05-02 00:00 UT   13 04 27.2   +17 12 32    12.494   13.287  140.4    2.8   144   32.4 
2025-05-03 00:00 UT   13 04 12.7   +17 12 53    12.508   13.292  139.6    2.8   143   32.5 
2025-05-04 00:00 UT   13 03 58.3   +17 13 12    12.523   13.298  138.7    2.9   142   32.5 
2025-05-05 00:00 UT   13 03 44.2   +17 13 28    12.537   13.303  137.9    2.9   141   32.5 
2025-05-06 00:00 UT   13 03 30.2   +17 13 41    12.552   13.309  137.1    3.0   140   32.5 
2025-05-07 00:00 UT   13 03 16.3   +17 13 52    12.567   13.314  136.2    3.0   139   32.5 
2025-05-08 00:00 UT   13 03 02.7   +17 14 00    12.582   13.319  135.4    3.1   139   32.5 
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   13 02 49.2   +17 14 06    12.597   13.325  134.5    3.1   138   32.5 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   13 02 36.0   +17 14 09    12.613   13.330  133.6    3.1   137   32.5 

    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.