C/2020 N2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach26 Jul 202017.81.826 AU0.873 AU20h21m-48°58'150.3°16.0°2°
Perihelion24 Aug 202018.61.790 AU1.330 AU16h25m-33°57'98.8°33.9°97°
Today28 Mar 202429.611.483 AU10.755 AU10h26m+30°43'135.0°3.5°134°
C/2020 N2 (ATLAS)- 2024-03-28
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 N2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9826030
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7901200
            i (Inclination)                 : 161.03950
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 257.16990
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 331.29210
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 284.55173
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -8.97896
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459085.64030
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 1043.79

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 28
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-P47

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (16.00 + 5 log[∆] + 8.00 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
2024-03-28 00:00 UT   10 27 04.1   +30 43 12    10.742   11.478  135.8    3.5   134   29.6 
2024-03-28 18:14 UT   10 26 46.0   +30 43 45    10.755   11.483  135.0    3.5   134   29.6 
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   10 26 40.3   +30 43 55    10.759   11.485  134.8    3.5   133   29.6 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   10 26 16.7   +30 44 34    10.776   11.491  133.9    3.6   133   29.6 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   10 25 53.5   +30 45 10    10.793   11.497  132.9    3.6   132   29.7 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   10 25 30.6   +30 45 43    10.811   11.504  132.0    3.7   131   29.7 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   10 25 08.0   +30 46 13    10.829   11.510  131.0    3.8   131   29.7 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   10 24 45.7   +30 46 40    10.847   11.516  130.1    3.8   130   29.7 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   10 24 23.8   +30 47 03    10.865   11.523  129.1    3.9   129   29.7 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   10 24 02.2   +30 47 24    10.884   11.529  128.2    3.9   129   29.7 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   10 23 40.9   +30 47 42    10.902   11.536  127.2    4.0   128   29.7 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   10 23 19.9   +30 47 56    10.921   11.542  126.3    4.0   127   29.7 


    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.