C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	26 Oct 2020	8.3	1.270 AU	0.404 AU	05h06m	-18°07'	125.2°	39.7°	301°
Nearest approach	14 Nov 2020	8.2	1.304 AU	0.357 AU	05h22m	+04°16'	147.0°	24.4°	298°
Today	25 Apr 2024	30.7	11.163 AU	10.359 AU	12h50m	+19°54'	141.4°	3.2°	147°

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)                : 0.9533220
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2704020
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.47100
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.17380
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.59150
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.92123
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.97944
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.50060
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 141.99

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 24
            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 8.58 + 5 log[∆] + 16.26 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
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   12 50 43.1   +19 53 57    10.356   11.162  141.5    3.2   148   30.7 
2024-04-25 04:50 UT   12 50 39.6   +19 54 03    10.359   11.163  141.4    3.2   147   30.7 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   12 50 25.5   +19 54 24    10.370   11.168  140.7    3.3   147   30.7 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   12 50 08.0   +19 54 49    10.384   11.174  139.9    3.3   146   30.7 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   12 49 50.7   +19 55 10    10.399   11.180  139.1    3.4   145   30.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   12 49 33.6   +19 55 28    10.414   11.186  138.3    3.4   144   30.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   12 49 16.7   +19 55 42    10.429   11.192  137.4    3.5   143   30.7 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   12 49 00.1   +19 55 54    10.444   11.198  136.6    3.5   142   30.7 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   12 48 43.6   +19 56 02    10.459   11.204  135.8    3.6   141   30.7 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   12 48 27.4   +19 56 07    10.475   11.210  134.9    3.7   140   30.8 
2024-05-04 00:00 UT   12 48 11.4   +19 56 08    10.491   11.216  134.1    3.7   139   30.8 
2024-05-05 00:00 UT   12 47 55.7   +19 56 07    10.507   11.222  133.2    3.8   138   30.8 

    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.