C/2020 P3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach7 Dec 202018.46.872 AU6.387 AU00h45m+83°01'115.7°7.4°114°
Perihelion22 Apr 202118.66.813 AU7.113 AU04h01m+79°17'68.8°7.9°32°
Today29 Mar 202420.69.648 AU8.783 AU13h01m+27°19'148.4°3.1°194°
C/2020 P3 (ATLAS)- 2024-03-29
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 P3 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0026250
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.8133410
            i (Inclination)                 : 61.88360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 19.47030
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 82.30340
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 93.46895
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.93230
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459326.51840

            Epoch                           : 2024 Mar 28
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-F34

            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 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. (6.00 + 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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT   13 01 37.4   +27 19 40     8.781    9.646  148.4    3.1   195   20.6 
2024-03-29 09:25 UT   13 01 27.0   +27 19 42     8.783    9.648  148.4    3.1   194   20.6 
2024-03-30 00:00 UT   13 01 10.9   +27 19 43     8.787    9.651  148.3    3.1   193   20.6 
2024-03-31 00:00 UT   13 00 44.3   +27 19 42     8.792    9.655  148.1    3.1   191   20.6 
2024-04-01 00:00 UT   13 00 17.6   +27 19 36     8.798    9.659  147.9    3.2   189   20.6 
2024-04-02 00:00 UT   12 59 51.0   +27 19 27     8.805    9.663  147.6    3.2   187   20.6 
2024-04-03 00:00 UT   12 59 24.4   +27 19 14     8.811    9.668  147.3    3.2   185   20.6 
2024-04-04 00:00 UT   12 58 57.8   +27 18 57     8.818    9.672  147.0    3.2   183   20.6 
2024-04-05 00:00 UT   12 58 31.2   +27 18 35     8.825    9.676  146.6    3.3   181   20.6 
2024-04-06 00:00 UT   12 58 04.7   +27 18 10     8.832    9.681  146.3    3.3   179   20.6 
2024-04-07 00:00 UT   12 57 38.2   +27 17 41     8.840    9.685  145.9    3.3   177   20.6 
2024-04-08 00:00 UT   12 57 11.7   +27 17 07     8.848    9.689  145.4    3.4   175   20.6 


    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.