C/2022 Q2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	12 Oct 2022	17.5	2.167 AU	1.221 AU	00h11m	-13°25'	154.9°	11.3°	35°
Perihelion	31 Jan 2023	17.9	1.640 AU	2.590 AU	20h44m	-05°29'	12.2°	7.3°	349°
Today	23 Apr 2026	28.8	10.373 AU	9.634 AU	11h16m	+04°14'	135.3°	3.9°	113°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 13.7 + 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 Q2 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9498100
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6398620
    i (Inclination)                 : 151.44070
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 352.96340
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 43.99240
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 312.66674
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.39315
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459976.19200
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 186.76

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-04-22 00:00 UT   11 17 18.8   +04 11 32     9.605   10.363  137.0    3.8   113   28.7 
2026-04-23 00:00 UT   11 16 58.5   +04 13 09     9.623   10.369  136.0    3.9   113   28.8 
2026-04-23 14:54 UT   11 16 46.1   +04 14 09     9.634   10.373  135.3    3.9   113   28.8 
2026-04-24 00:00 UT   11 16 38.6   +04 14 45     9.641   10.375  134.9    3.9   113   28.8 
2026-04-25 00:00 UT   11 16 19.0   +04 16 18     9.659   10.382  133.8    4.0   113   28.8 
2026-04-26 00:00 UT   11 15 59.8   +04 17 49     9.678   10.388  132.8    4.1   113   28.8 
2026-04-27 00:00 UT   11 15 40.9   +04 19 18     9.697   10.394  131.7    4.1   113   28.8 
2026-04-28 00:00 UT   11 15 22.4   +04 20 45     9.716   10.401  130.7    4.2   113   28.8 
2026-04-29 00:00 UT   11 15 04.3   +04 22 09     9.735   10.407  129.6    4.3   113   28.8 
2026-04-30 00:00 UT   11 14 46.5   +04 23 32     9.755   10.413  128.6    4.3   113   28.8 
2026-05-01 00:00 UT   11 14 29.1   +04 24 52     9.775   10.419  127.5    4.4   113   28.8 
2026-05-02 00:00 UT   11 14 12.1   +04 26 10     9.794   10.426  126.5    4.5   113   28.8 
2026-05-03 00:00 UT   11 13 55.4   +04 27 26     9.815   10.432  125.4    4.5   113   28.8 

    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.