C/2022 R2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Oct 2022	13.7	0.788 AU	1.014 AU	10h14m	+27°11'	46.0°	66.1°	307°
Perihelion	25 Oct 2022	13.1	0.630 AU	1.231 AU	13h20m	+17°00'	30.6°	53.4°	342°
Today	18 Aug 2025	29.9	10.586 AU	10.103 AU	18h04m	-63°24'	116.0°	4.9°	65°

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 R2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9985740
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6300100
            i (Inclination)                 : 52.88960
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 60.38740
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 78.31980
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 131.47415
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 51.34865
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459878.10190
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 9286.28

            Epoch                           : 2025 Aug 18
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-Y15

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

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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (17.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 14.68 + 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
2025-08-18 00:00 UT   18 04 42.9   -63 26 29    10.088   10.580  116.6    4.9    65   29.9 
2025-08-18 20:08 UT   18 04 22.8   -63 24 14    10.103   10.586  116.0    4.9    65   29.9 
2025-08-19 00:00 UT   18 04 19.0   -63 23 48    10.106   10.587  115.9    4.9    65   29.9 
2025-08-20 00:00 UT   18 03 56.0   -63 21 04    10.124   10.594  115.2    5.0    66   30.0 
2025-08-21 00:00 UT   18 03 33.8   -63 18 19    10.142   10.601  114.5    5.0    67   30.0 
2025-08-22 00:00 UT   18 03 12.6   -63 15 32    10.160   10.608  113.8    5.0    68   30.0 
2025-08-23 00:00 UT   18 02 52.2   -63 12 44    10.178   10.616  113.1    5.0    69   30.0 
2025-08-24 00:00 UT   18 02 32.7   -63 09 54    10.197   10.623  112.3    5.1    70   30.0 
2025-08-25 00:00 UT   18 02 14.1   -63 07 02    10.215   10.630  111.6    5.1    71   30.0 
2025-08-26 00:00 UT   18 01 56.4   -63 04 09    10.234   10.637  110.9    5.1    71   30.0 
2025-08-27 00:00 UT   18 01 39.6   -63 01 15    10.253   10.644  110.2    5.1    72   30.0 
2025-08-28 00:00 UT   18 01 23.6   -62 58 20    10.272   10.652  109.5    5.1    73   30.0 

    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.