C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	25 Oct 2020	8.3	1.277 AU	0.413 AU	05h08m	-17°04'	125.1°	39.6°	299°
Nearest approach	14 Nov 2020	8.2	1.311 AU	0.366 AU	05h24m	+05°00'	146.7°	24.5°	296°
Today	6 Feb 2026	33.5	14.761 AU	14.259 AU	13h32m	+13°04'	118.9°	3.4°	281°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.5 + 5 log[∆] + 16.5 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2020 M3 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9532600
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2769290
    i (Inclination)                 : 23.46770
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.18860
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.68280
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 42.02293
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.94609
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.06170
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 142.80

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-H30

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   13 32 23.4   +13 01 38    14.273   14.753  117.4    3.4   282   33.5 
2026-02-06 00:00 UT   13 32 18.8   +13 03 24    14.264   14.758  118.4    3.4   281   33.5 
2026-02-06 13:40 UT   13 32 16.1   +13 04 25    14.259   14.761  118.9    3.4   281   33.5 
2026-02-07 00:00 UT   13 32 14.0   +13 05 12    14.255   14.763  119.3    3.3   281   33.5 
2026-02-08 00:00 UT   13 32 08.9   +13 06 60    14.246   14.768  120.3    3.3   280   33.5 
2026-02-09 00:00 UT   13 32 03.6   +13 08 48    14.238   14.774  121.2    3.3   280   33.5 
2026-02-10 00:00 UT   13 31 58.0   +13 10 38    14.229   14.779  122.2    3.2   279   33.5 
2026-02-11 00:00 UT   13 31 52.1   +13 12 28    14.221   14.784  123.1    3.2   279   33.5 
2026-02-12 00:00 UT   13 31 46.0   +13 14 19    14.213   14.789  124.1    3.2   278   33.5 
2026-02-13 00:00 UT   13 31 39.6   +13 16 11    14.205   14.794  125.0    3.1   277   33.5 
2026-02-14 00:00 UT   13 31 33.0   +13 18 03    14.197   14.799  125.9    3.1   277   33.5 
2026-02-15 00:00 UT   13 31 26.1   +13 19 56    14.190   14.804  126.9    3.1   276   33.5 
2026-02-16 00:00 UT   13 31 18.9   +13 21 49    14.183   14.809  127.8    3.0   276   33.5 

    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.