C/2020 M3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	25 Oct 2020	8.3	1.275 AU	0.409 AU	05h07m	-17°31'	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	9 May 2025	32.5	13.326 AU	12.601 AU	13h02m	+17°14'	134.3°	3.1°	138°

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)                : 0.9533100
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.2745550
            i (Inclination)                 : 23.47090
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 71.17360
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 328.66270
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 41.98926
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -11.95464
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459148.29630
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 142.63

            Epoch                           : 2025 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 8.51 + 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
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   13 02 49.2   +17 14 06    12.597   13.325  134.5    3.1   138   32.5 
2025-05-09 05:49 UT   13 02 46.0   +17 14 07    12.601   13.326  134.3    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 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   13 02 22.9   +17 14 09    12.629   13.336  132.8    3.2   136   32.5 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   13 02 10.0   +17 14 07    12.645   13.341  131.9    3.2   136   32.5 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   13 01 57.4   +17 14 03    12.661   13.347  131.0    3.3   135   32.5 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   13 01 44.9   +17 13 56    12.677   13.352  130.2    3.3   134   32.5 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   13 01 32.7   +17 13 46    12.694   13.357  129.3    3.4   134   32.5 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   13 01 20.6   +17 13 34    12.711   13.363  128.4    3.4   133   32.5 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   13 01 08.8   +17 13 19    12.728   13.368  127.5    3.4   132   32.5 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   13 00 57.2   +17 13 02    12.745   13.374  126.6    3.5   132   32.5 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   13 00 45.9   +17 12 42    12.762   13.379  125.8    3.5   131   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.