P/2021 J3 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 May 2019	16.9	4.893 AU	3.913 AU	15h33m	-03°04'	164.2°	3.2°	187°
Perihelion	29 Jun 2019	17.0	4.887 AU	4.183 AU	15h17m	-03°57'	129.0°	9.3°	117°
Today	27 Dec 2025	22.2	10.390 AU	10.336 AU	00h43m	-10°58'	90.4°	5.4°	66°

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. (7.0 + 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 P/2021 J3 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.4497330
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.8871070
    i (Inclination)                 : 14.51200
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 110.94230
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 125.56270
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 57.38844
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 11.76183
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458664.46930
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 26.47

    Epoch                           : 2025 Dec 26
    Reference                       : MPEC 2024-F34

    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
2025-12-26 00:00 UT   00 43 33.2   -11 00 15    10.316   10.388   91.4    5.4    66   22.2 
2025-12-27 00:00 UT   00 43 36.4   -10 58 26    10.335   10.390   90.5    5.4    66   22.2 
2025-12-27 01:43 UT   00 43 36.6   -10 58 18    10.336   10.390   90.4    5.4    66   22.2 
2025-12-28 00:00 UT   00 43 39.9   -10 56 35    10.353   10.392   89.5    5.4    66   22.2 
2025-12-29 00:00 UT   00 43 43.8   -10 54 42    10.372   10.394   88.6    5.4    67   22.2 
2025-12-30 00:00 UT   00 43 48.0   -10 52 47    10.391   10.396   87.6    5.4    67   22.3 
2025-12-31 00:00 UT   00 43 52.6   -10 50 50    10.409   10.398   86.6    5.4    67   22.3 
2026-01-01 00:00 UT   00 43 57.5   -10 48 51    10.428   10.400   85.7    5.4    67   22.3 
2026-01-02 00:00 UT   00 44 02.9   -10 46 50    10.446   10.402   84.7    5.4    68   22.3 
2026-01-03 00:00 UT   00 44 08.5   -10 44 47    10.465   10.404   83.8    5.4    68   22.3 
2026-01-04 00:00 UT   00 44 14.5   -10 42 43    10.483   10.406   82.8    5.4    68   22.3 
2026-01-05 00:00 UT   00 44 20.9   -10 40 37    10.501   10.408   81.9    5.4    68   22.3 
2026-01-06 00:00 UT   00 44 27.6   -10 38 29    10.520   10.410   80.9    5.4    69   22.3 

    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.