C/2020 P3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	7 Dec 2020	18.4	6.877 AU	6.392 AU	00h47m	+83°00'	115.7°	7.4°	114°
Perihelion	23 Apr 2021	18.6	6.818 AU	7.124 AU	04h06m	+79°15'	68.4°	7.9°	33°
Today	11 Jan 2026	22.5	12.599 AU	12.506 AU	13h23m	+03°07'	93.2°	4.5°	292°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (6.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2020 P3 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0039160
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.8178280
    i (Inclination)                 : 61.83820
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 19.48930
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 82.36930
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 93.64190
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 60.90459
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459327.67430

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jan 11
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-JU4

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-10 00:00 UT   13 23 28.8   +03 08 13    12.530   12.590   91.3    4.5   292   22.5 
2026-01-11 00:00 UT   13 23 29.8   +03 07 46    12.517   12.595   92.3    4.5   292   22.5 
2026-01-11 22:17 UT   13 23 30.5   +03 07 24    12.506   12.599   93.2    4.5   292   22.5 
2026-01-12 00:00 UT   13 23 30.5   +03 07 22    12.505   12.600   93.3    4.5   292   22.5 
2026-01-13 00:00 UT   13 23 30.9   +03 06 59    12.493   12.604   94.3    4.5   291   22.5 
2026-01-14 00:00 UT   13 23 31.1   +03 06 39    12.481   12.609   95.3    4.5   291   22.5 
2026-01-15 00:00 UT   13 23 30.8   +03 06 20    12.468   12.614   96.3    4.4   291   22.5 
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   13 23 30.3   +03 06 02    12.456   12.618   97.3    4.4   291   22.5 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   13 23 29.5   +03 05 47    12.444   12.623   98.3    4.4   291   22.5 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   13 23 28.3   +03 05 33    12.432   12.628   99.3    4.4   290   22.5 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   13 23 26.9   +03 05 21    12.420   12.632  100.3    4.4   290   22.5 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   13 23 25.1   +03 05 11    12.407   12.637  101.3    4.4   290   22.5 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   13 23 23.0   +03 05 02    12.395   12.642  102.3    4.4   290   22.5 

    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.