C/2022 F1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	24 Jun 2022	18.5	5.989 AU	5.515 AU	11h37m	-88°46'	113.2°	9.0°	99°
Perihelion	6 Aug 2022	18.5	5.981 AU	5.617 AU	14h43m	-85°18'	106.3°	9.4°	97°
Today	13 May 2026	22.6	10.836 AU	11.361 AU	23h43m	+00°22'	56.4°	4.5°	248°

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 C/2022 F1 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9999040
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.9810040
    i (Inclination)                 : 57.98100
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 350.63650
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 278.39870
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 276.19733
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -57.01146
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459797.79430

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-12 00:00 UT   23 43 14.8   +00 16 32    11.378   10.826   54.7    4.4   248   22.6 
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   23 43 26.2   +00 19 27    11.370   10.831   55.6    4.4   248   22.6 
2026-05-13 22:33 UT   23 43 36.6   +00 22 11    11.361   10.836   56.4    4.5   248   22.6 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   23 43 37.3   +00 22 21    11.361   10.836   56.5    4.5   248   22.6 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   23 43 48.2   +00 25 13    11.352   10.841   57.4    4.5   248   22.6 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   23 43 58.8   +00 28 04    11.343   10.846   58.3    4.5   248   22.6 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   23 44 09.2   +00 30 54    11.334   10.851   59.2    4.6   248   22.6 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   23 44 19.2   +00 33 42    11.324   10.856   60.1    4.6   248   22.6 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   23 44 29.1   +00 36 28    11.315   10.861   61.0    4.7   248   22.6 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   23 44 38.6   +00 39 14    11.305   10.866   61.9    4.7   248   22.6 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   23 44 47.9   +00 41 57    11.295   10.871   62.8    4.8   248   22.6 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   23 44 56.9   +00 44 39    11.285   10.876   63.8    4.8   248   22.6 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   23 45 05.6   +00 47 20    11.275   10.881   64.7    4.8   248   22.6 

    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.