C/2022 O1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Jul 2021	19.1	7.570 AU	7.201 AU	04h55m	-83°51'	107.5°	7.4°	208°
Perihelion	15 Feb 2022	19.2	7.433 AU	7.805 AU	01h06m	-69°45'	64.4°	6.9°	127°
Today	19 Apr 2024	20.4	8.921 AU	9.710 AU	02h52m	-21°40'	36.3°	3.8°	154°

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)                : 1.0029750
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 7.4326350
            i (Inclination)                 : 71.04130
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 49.91730
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 268.93260
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 136.63506
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -71.01238
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459626.41970

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 19
            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
2024-04-19 00:00 UT   02 52 04.4   -21 44 31     9.706    8.918   36.4    3.8   153   20.4 
2024-04-19 21:24 UT   02 52 26.6   -21 40 05     9.710    8.921   36.3    3.8   154   20.4 
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   02 52 29.3   -21 39 33     9.710    8.921   36.3    3.8   154   20.4 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   02 52 54.3   -21 34 39     9.715    8.925   36.2    3.8   156   20.4 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   02 53 19.3   -21 29 47     9.719    8.928   36.2    3.8   157   20.4 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   02 53 44.4   -21 24 60     9.723    8.931   36.1    3.8   159   20.4 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   02 54 09.5   -21 20 15     9.727    8.935   36.1    3.8   160   20.5 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   02 54 34.7   -21 15 35     9.731    8.938   36.1    3.8   162   20.5 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   02 54 59.9   -21 10 57     9.735    8.941   36.1    3.8   163   20.5 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   02 55 25.1   -21 06 23     9.738    8.945   36.1    3.8   165   20.5 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   02 55 50.3   -21 01 52     9.741    8.948   36.1    3.8   166   20.5 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   02 56 15.6   -20 57 25     9.744    8.951   36.2    3.8   167   20.5 

    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.