C/2020 M5 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	19 Aug 2021	15.0	3.000 AU	3.626 AU	12h30m	+43°12'	45.2°	13.8°	59°
Nearest approach	2 Mar 2022	15.0	3.556 AU	2.597 AU	12h02m	+10°26'	162.6°	4.8°	260°
Today	5 Jul 2025	23.5	11.612 AU	11.860 AU	08h34m	-47°36'	73.5°	4.8°	157°

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 M5 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0001200
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.9998910
            i (Inclination)                 : 93.17360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 352.01930
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 126.24530
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 356.33788
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 53.63501
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459446.25050

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jul 05
            Reference                       : MPEC 2023-FK0

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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 (9.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.45 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-07-05 00:00 UT   08 34 20.7   -47 37 10    11.848   11.606   73.8    4.8   156   23.5 
2025-07-05 23:28 UT   08 34 41.9   -47 36 43    11.860   11.612   73.5    4.8   157   23.5 
2025-07-06 00:00 UT   08 34 42.4   -47 36 42    11.860   11.612   73.5    4.8   157   23.5 
2025-07-07 00:00 UT   08 35 04.2   -47 36 19    11.872   11.618   73.1    4.8   158   23.5 
2025-07-08 00:00 UT   08 35 26.1   -47 35 59    11.884   11.625   72.8    4.8   159   23.5 
2025-07-09 00:00 UT   08 35 48.1   -47 35 44    11.896   11.631   72.5    4.8   160   23.5 
2025-07-10 00:00 UT   08 36 10.2   -47 35 34    11.908   11.637   72.1    4.8   161   23.5 
2025-07-11 00:00 UT   08 36 32.5   -47 35 27    11.920   11.643   71.8    4.8   162   23.5 
2025-07-12 00:00 UT   08 36 54.8   -47 35 24    11.932   11.649   71.5    4.7   162   23.5 
2025-07-13 00:00 UT   08 37 17.2   -47 35 26    11.944   11.655   71.1    4.7   163   23.5 
2025-07-14 00:00 UT   08 37 39.8   -47 35 32    11.955   11.661   70.8    4.7   164   23.5 
2025-07-15 00:00 UT   08 38 02.4   -47 35 42    11.967   11.668   70.5    4.7   165   23.5 

    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.