C/2020 R4 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	2 Mar 2021	10.7	1.022 AU	1.703 AU	20h40m	-11°22'	32.8°	31.7°	266°
Nearest approach	23 Apr 2021	9.2	1.336 AU	0.458 AU	16h15m	+28°58'	127.7°	36.6°	222°
Today	31 Oct 2024	28.2	12.236 AU	12.311 AU	09h03m	+12°58'	83.4°	4.6°	286°

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 R4 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9896130
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.0224360
            i (Inclination)                 : 164.41960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 323.24910
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 46.56980
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 277.75105
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.24786
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459275.88350
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 976.61

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-K19

            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 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 (13.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.38 + 5 log[∆] + 12.28 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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   09 03 04.2   +12 58 16    12.311   12.236   83.3    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   09 03 04.1   +12 58 15    12.311   12.236   83.4    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   09 03 02.7   +12 57 54    12.300   12.242   84.3    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   09 03 00.9   +12 57 33    12.289   12.249   85.3    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   09 02 58.8   +12 57 13    12.278   12.255   86.3    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   09 02 56.3   +12 56 55    12.267   12.262   87.3    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   09 02 53.5   +12 56 38    12.256   12.268   88.4    4.6   286   28.2 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   09 02 50.4   +12 56 22    12.245   12.275   89.4    4.6   287   28.2 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   09 02 46.9   +12 56 08    12.234   12.281   90.4    4.6   287   28.2 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   09 02 43.1   +12 55 55    12.223   12.287   91.4    4.6   287   28.2 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   09 02 38.9   +12 55 44    12.212   12.294   92.4    4.6   287   28.2 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   09 02 34.4   +12 55 34    12.201   12.300   93.4    4.6   287   28.2 

    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.