C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	25 Oct 2020	8.3	1.273 AU	0.406 AU	05h06m	-17°50'	125.3°	39.6°	300°
Nearest approach	14 Nov 2020	8.2	1.306 AU	0.360 AU	05h22m	+04°25'	147.1°	24.3°	298°
Today	26 Dec 2024	32.1	12.590 AU	12.691 AU	13h23m	+13°41'	81.9°	4.4°	297°

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)                : 0.9533390
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2728270
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.47280
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.16400
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.64510
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.96314
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.96169
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.44760
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 142.47

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 25
            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 8.54 + 5 log[∆] + 16.36 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
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   13 23 37.5   +13 40 43    12.699   12.585   81.1    4.4   297   32.1 
2024-12-26 19:54 UT   13 23 43.3   +13 41 30    12.691   12.590   81.9    4.4   297   32.1 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   13 23 44.5   +13 41 40    12.689   12.591   82.0    4.4   296   32.1 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   13 23 51.2   +13 42 39    12.679   12.597   83.0    4.4   296   32.1 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   13 23 57.6   +13 43 40    12.668   12.602   83.9    4.5   296   32.1 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   13 24 03.7   +13 44 44    12.658   12.608   84.9    4.5   295   32.1 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   13 24 09.6   +13 45 50    12.647   12.613   85.8    4.5   295   32.1 
2025-01-01 00:00 UT   13 24 15.1   +13 46 58    12.636   12.619   86.7    4.5   295   32.1 
2025-01-02 00:00 UT   13 24 20.3   +13 48 08    12.626   12.625   87.7    4.5   294   32.1 
2025-01-03 00:00 UT   13 24 25.2   +13 49 20    12.615   12.630   88.6    4.5   294   32.1 
2025-01-04 00:00 UT   13 24 29.8   +13 50 35    12.605   12.636   89.6    4.5   294   32.1 
2025-01-05 00:00 UT   13 24 34.1   +13 51 51    12.594   12.641   90.5    4.5   293   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.