C/2022 O1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Jul 2021	19.1	7.570 AU	7.203 AU	04h55m	-83°46'	107.4°	7.4°	208°
Perihelion	14 Feb 2022	19.2	7.435 AU	7.808 AU	01h06m	-69°54'	64.4°	6.9°	126°
Today	23 Apr 2026	22.3	11.808 AU	12.761 AU	03h01m	+02°28'	17.8°	1.5°	125°

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. (6.0 + 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 O1 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0003810
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.4352410
    i (Inclination)                 : 71.07120
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 49.90330
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 268.92950
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 136.60655
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -71.04206
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459625.22590

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 22
    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
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   03 00 54.6   +02 24 57    12.752   11.803   18.4    1.5   122   22.2 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   03 01 12.0   +02 27 58    12.760   11.807   17.8    1.5   124   22.3 
2026-04-23 02:54 UT   03 01 14.1   +02 28 20    12.761   11.808   17.8    1.5   125   22.3 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   03 01 29.5   +02 30 59    12.768   11.811   17.3    1.4   127   22.3 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   03 01 47.0   +02 33 58    12.775   11.816   16.8    1.4   129   22.3 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   03 02 04.6   +02 36 57    12.782   11.820   16.3    1.4   132   22.3 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   03 02 22.2   +02 39 54    12.789   11.824   15.8    1.3   135   22.3 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   03 02 39.9   +02 42 50    12.796   11.829   15.4    1.3   138   22.3 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   03 02 57.6   +02 45 45    12.802   11.833   15.0    1.3   141   22.3 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   03 03 15.4   +02 48 39    12.808   11.837   14.7    1.2   144   22.3 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   03 03 33.1   +02 51 32    12.814   11.842   14.4    1.2   147   22.3 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   03 03 50.9   +02 54 23    12.820   11.846   14.2    1.2   151   22.3 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   03 04 08.8   +02 57 14    12.825   11.850   14.0    1.2   154   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.