C/2020 X2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	17 Nov 2020	18.9	3.834 AU	3.123 AU	07h02m	+17°54'	130.0°	11.4°	280°
Nearest approach	30 Dec 2020	18.7	3.848 AU	2.866 AU	06h48m	+20°54'	176.7°	0.8°	314°
Today	21 Oct 2025	26.7	11.542 AU	12.487 AU	14h34m	+01°26'	17.4°	1.5°	45°

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. (10.6 + 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 X2 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.7683750
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.8340260
    i (Inclination)                 : 18.18710
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 105.35160
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 347.60110
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 93.55433
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -3.84270
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459170.78640
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 67.34

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 20
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-A43

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-20 00:00 UT   14 33 41.3   +01 29 46    12.477   11.535   18.1    1.5    49   26.7 
2025-10-21 00:00 UT   14 34 02.9   +01 27 38    12.484   11.539   17.7    1.5    47   26.7 
2025-10-21 14:44 UT   14 34 16.2   +01 26 21    12.487   11.542   17.4    1.5    45   26.7 
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   14 34 24.6   +01 25 32    12.490   11.543   17.3    1.5    44   26.7 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   14 34 46.3   +01 23 27    12.496   11.548   16.9    1.4    41   26.7 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   14 35 08.0   +01 21 23    12.501   11.552   16.6    1.4    38   26.7 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   14 35 29.8   +01 19 21    12.507   11.556   16.3    1.4    35   26.7 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   14 35 51.6   +01 17 19    12.512   11.561   16.1    1.4    32   26.7 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   14 36 13.5   +01 15 19    12.517   11.565   15.9    1.4    29   26.7 
2025-10-28 00:00 UT   14 36 35.3   +01 13 21    12.522   11.569   15.8    1.3    26   26.7 
2025-10-29 00:00 UT   14 36 57.2   +01 11 23    12.526   11.573   15.7    1.3    22   26.7 
2025-10-30 00:00 UT   14 37 19.1   +01 09 27    12.530   11.578   15.7    1.3    19   26.7 
2025-10-31 00:00 UT   14 37 41.1   +01 07 32    12.534   11.582   15.7    1.3    16   26.7 

    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.