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	10 Mar 2026	28.5	10.095 AU	9.103 AU	11h35m	+02°38'	176.2°	0.4°	293°

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)                : 0.9498140
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.6399090
    i (Inclination)                 : 151.44120
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 352.96340
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 43.99350
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 312.66552
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.39323
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459976.19500
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 186.79

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 09
    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
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   11 36 15.8   +02 35 05     9.096   10.085  174.5    0.5   293   28.5 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   11 35 47.2   +02 37 34     9.101   10.092  175.7    0.4   293   28.5 
2026-03-10 11:08 UT   11 35 33.9   +02 38 43     9.103   10.095  176.2    0.4   293   28.5 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   11 35 18.6   +02 40 03     9.106   10.098  176.8    0.3   293   28.5 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   11 34 50.0   +02 42 31     9.111   10.105  177.9    0.2   294   28.5 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   11 34 21.4   +02 45 00     9.117   10.111  179.0    0.1   294   28.5 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   11 33 52.8   +02 47 28     9.123   10.117  179.8    0.0   102   28.5 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   11 33 24.3   +02 49 57     9.129   10.124  178.7    0.1   112   28.5 
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   11 32 55.8   +02 52 24     9.136   10.130  177.6    0.2   112   28.5 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   11 32 27.3   +02 54 52     9.143   10.136  176.5    0.3   112   28.5 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   11 31 59.0   +02 57 19     9.150   10.143  175.4    0.5   112   28.5 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   11 31 30.7   +02 59 46     9.158   10.149  174.2    0.6   113   28.6 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   11 31 02.5   +03 02 12     9.166   10.155  173.1    0.7   113   28.6 

    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.