C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	26 Oct 2020	8.3	1.271 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	9 May 2024	30.8	11.247 AU	10.575 AU	12h46m	+19°55'	129.6°	4.0°	135°

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)                : 0.9533250
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2705160
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.47120
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.17270
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.59490
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.92343
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.97836
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.50210
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 142.02

            Epoch                           : 2024 May 08
            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[∆] + 16.27 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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT   12 46 55.2   +19 55 29    10.573   11.246  129.7    4.0   136   30.8 
2024-05-09 03:11 UT   12 46 53.2   +19 55 27    10.575   11.247  129.6    4.0   135   30.8 
2024-05-10 00:00 UT   12 46 40.7   +19 55 12    10.590   11.252  128.9    4.0   135   30.8 
2024-05-11 00:00 UT   12 46 26.5   +19 54 51    10.607   11.258  128.0    4.1   134   30.8 
2024-05-12 00:00 UT   12 46 12.5   +19 54 28    10.625   11.264  127.1    4.1   134   30.8 
2024-05-13 00:00 UT   12 45 58.9   +19 54 01    10.642   11.270  126.2    4.1   133   30.8 
2024-05-14 00:00 UT   12 45 45.5   +19 53 31    10.660   11.276  125.4    4.2   132   30.8 
2024-05-15 00:00 UT   12 45 32.4   +19 52 58    10.678   11.282  124.5    4.2   132   30.8 
2024-05-16 00:00 UT   12 45 19.7   +19 52 23    10.696   11.288  123.6    4.3   131   30.8 
2024-05-17 00:00 UT   12 45 07.2   +19 51 44    10.715   11.294  122.7    4.3   131   30.9 
2024-05-18 00:00 UT   12 44 55.0   +19 51 02    10.733   11.300  121.8    4.4   130   30.9 
2024-05-19 00:00 UT   12 44 43.1   +19 50 17    10.752   11.306  120.9    4.4   129   30.9 

    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.