C/2021 S1 (ATLAS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 30 Dec 2021 | 18.5 | 6.140 AU | 5.300 AU | 06h23m | +57°01' | 146.1° | 5.1° | 175° |
Perihelion | 2 Mar 2022 | 18.7 | 6.125 AU | 5.772 AU | 05h56m | +49°30' | 106.3° | 8.9° | 98° |
Today | 15 Jul 2025 | 22.2 | 10.161 AU | 10.834 AU | 09h17m | -18°26' | 46.5° | 4.2° | 148° |
C/2021 S1 (ATLAS)- 2025-07-15
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/2021 S1 (ATLAS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0029070
q (Perihelion distance) : 6.1253640
i (Inclination) : 52.03740
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 299.85530
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 148.31240
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 279.06160
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 24.46537
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459640.52290
Epoch : 2025 Jul 14
Reference : MPEC 2023-J29
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 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. (7.00 + 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
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 09 17 39.5 -18 24 47 10.823 10.157 47.0 4.2 147 22.2
2025-07-15 20:43 UT 09 17 59.7 -18 26 20 10.834 10.161 46.5 4.2 148 22.2
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 09 18 02.9 -18 26 34 10.836 10.162 46.4 4.2 148 22.2
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 09 18 26.3 -18 28 25 10.848 10.167 45.8 4.1 149 22.2
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 09 18 49.9 -18 30 19 10.861 10.172 45.3 4.1 150 22.3
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 09 19 13.5 -18 32 15 10.873 10.176 44.7 4.0 151 22.3
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 09 19 37.3 -18 34 14 10.885 10.181 44.2 4.0 152 22.3
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 09 20 01.1 -18 36 16 10.897 10.186 43.7 3.9 153 22.3
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 09 20 25.0 -18 38 22 10.908 10.191 43.1 3.9 154 22.3
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 09 20 49.0 -18 40 29 10.920 10.196 42.6 3.9 155 22.3
2025-07-24 00:00 UT 09 21 13.0 -18 42 40 10.931 10.201 42.1 3.8 156 22.3
2025-07-25 00:00 UT 09 21 37.2 -18 44 54 10.942 10.205 41.6 3.8 157 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.