C/2022 O1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Jul 2021	19.1	7.571 AU	7.203 AU	04h55m	-83°48'	107.5°	7.4°	208°
Perihelion	15 Feb 2022	19.2	7.435 AU	7.808 AU	01h06m	-69°48'	64.4°	6.9°	127°
Today	11 May 2025	21.4	10.359 AU	11.266 AU	03h04m	-06°47'	24.9°	2.4°	185°

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/2022 O1 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0014480
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.4347390
            i (Inclination)                 : 71.04960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 49.91190
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 268.94200
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 136.65714
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -71.02117
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459625.95810

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 10
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-A43

            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. (6.00 + 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
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   03 04 21.1   -06 50 13    11.264   10.356   24.7    2.3   184   21.4 
2025-05-11 20:01 UT   03 04 38.2   -06 47 35    11.266   10.359   24.9    2.4   185   21.4 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   03 04 41.6   -06 47 04    11.266   10.360   25.0    2.4   186   21.4 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   03 05 02.1   -06 43 57    11.268   10.364   25.3    2.4   188   21.4 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   03 05 22.6   -06 40 52    11.270   10.368   25.6    2.4   190   21.4 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   03 05 43.1   -06 37 49    11.271   10.372   25.9    2.4   191   21.4 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   03 06 03.5   -06 34 49    11.272   10.376   26.3    2.5   193   21.4 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   03 06 23.8   -06 31 50    11.273   10.380   26.7    2.5   195   21.4 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   03 06 44.1   -06 28 55    11.274   10.384   27.1    2.5   197   21.4 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   03 07 04.4   -06 26 01    11.274   10.388   27.6    2.6   198   21.4 
2025-05-20 00:00 UT   03 07 24.6   -06 23 09    11.274   10.392   28.0    2.6   200   21.4 
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   03 07 44.8   -06 20 20    11.274   10.396   28.5    2.7   202   21.4 

    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.