C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 2 Mar 2021 | 10.7 | 1.020 AU | 1.704 AU | 20h40m | -11°24' | 32.6° | 31.6° | 266° |
Nearest approach | 23 Apr 2021 | 9.2 | 1.336 AU | 0.458 AU | 16h15m | +29°01' | 127.6° | 36.6° | 222° |
Today | 2 Oct 2025 | 29.2 | 14.316 AU | 14.805 AU | 08h47m | +13°27' | 59.0° | 3.4° | 283° |
C/2020 R4 (ATLAS)- 2025-10-02
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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) : 0.9894620
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.0200660
i (Inclination) : 164.39800
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 323.22700
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 46.49280
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 277.80906
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 11.24873
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459275.61120
P (Orbital period in years) : 952.37
Epoch : 2025 Oct 01
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 9.40 + 5 log[∆] + 12.06 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
2025-10-02 00:00 UT 08 47 22.0 +13 28 24 14.812 14.311 58.2 3.4 283 29.2
2025-10-02 20:31 UT 08 47 26.9 +13 27 45 14.805 14.316 59.0 3.4 283 29.2
2025-10-03 00:00 UT 08 47 27.8 +13 27 38 14.804 14.317 59.2 3.4 283 29.2
2025-10-04 00:00 UT 08 47 33.3 +13 26 53 14.794 14.323 60.1 3.5 283 29.2
2025-10-05 00:00 UT 08 47 38.6 +13 26 08 14.785 14.329 61.1 3.5 283 29.2
2025-10-06 00:00 UT 08 47 43.7 +13 25 25 14.776 14.335 62.1 3.5 283 29.2
2025-10-07 00:00 UT 08 47 48.5 +13 24 42 14.766 14.341 63.0 3.6 283 29.2
2025-10-08 00:00 UT 08 47 53.1 +13 23 60 14.757 14.347 64.0 3.6 283 29.2
2025-10-09 00:00 UT 08 47 57.5 +13 23 18 14.747 14.353 64.9 3.6 283 29.2
2025-10-10 00:00 UT 08 48 01.6 +13 22 38 14.737 14.359 65.9 3.6 284 29.2
2025-10-11 00:00 UT 08 48 05.4 +13 21 58 14.727 14.365 66.9 3.7 284 29.2
2025-10-12 00:00 UT 08 48 09.1 +13 21 19 14.717 14.371 67.8 3.7 284 29.2
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.