C/2021 K1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	2 May 2021	16.1	2.502 AU	2.901 AU	23h05m	-06°56'	57.2°	19.8°	247°
Nearest approach	13 Sep 2021	15.6	2.812 AU	1.888 AU	01h16m	-10°35'	151.2°	9.9°	281°
Today	22 Jun 2025	25.3	10.549 AU	11.532 AU	06h44m	+13°30'	13.9°	1.3°	137°

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/2021 K1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8015010
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.5021250
            i (Inclination)                 : 16.27120
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 140.92380
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 184.22410
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 144.97929
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -1.18254
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459336.88640
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 44.75

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 21
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-O08

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 (11.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.78 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 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
2025-06-22 00:00 UT   06 44 10.3   +13 30 19    11.531   10.548   14.1    1.3   136   25.3 
2025-06-22 05:43 UT   06 44 16.2   +13 30 17    11.532   10.549   13.9    1.3   137   25.3 
2025-06-23 00:00 UT   06 44 35.0   +13 30 12    11.538   10.553   13.4    1.3   139   25.3 
2025-06-24 00:00 UT   06 44 59.7   +13 30 03    11.545   10.557   12.8    1.2   142   25.3 
2025-06-25 00:00 UT   06 45 24.5   +13 29 54    11.552   10.562   12.3    1.2   145   25.3 
2025-06-26 00:00 UT   06 45 49.2   +13 29 44    11.559   10.566   11.8    1.1   148   25.3 
2025-06-27 00:00 UT   06 46 14.0   +13 29 33    11.565   10.571   11.3    1.1   152   25.3 
2025-06-28 00:00 UT   06 46 38.8   +13 29 20    11.572   10.575   10.8    1.0   155   25.3 
2025-06-29 00:00 UT   06 47 03.5   +13 29 07    11.578   10.580   10.5    1.0   160   25.3 
2025-06-30 00:00 UT   06 47 28.3   +13 28 53    11.583   10.584   10.1    1.0   164   25.3 
2025-07-01 00:00 UT   06 47 53.1   +13 28 38    11.589   10.589    9.8    0.9   169   25.3 
2025-07-02 00:00 UT   06 48 17.8   +13 28 21    11.594   10.593    9.6    0.9   174   25.3 

    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.