C/2022 R2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	3 Oct 2022	13.7	0.788 AU	1.013 AU	10h14m	+27°10'	46.1°	66.1°	307°
Perihelion	25 Oct 2022	13.1	0.630 AU	1.231 AU	13h21m	+16°58'	30.6°	53.5°	342°
Today	20 Dec 2025	30.7	11.458 AU	12.233 AU	18h41m	-58°53'	36.5°	2.9°	161°

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 14.7 + 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 R2 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9985910
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6297400
    i (Inclination)                 : 52.88060
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 60.37360
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 78.32400
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 131.47050
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 51.34122
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459878.18440
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 9448.77

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-Y15

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-12-19 00:00 UT   18 40 21.3   -58 54 33    12.222   11.449   36.8    2.9   159   30.7 
2025-12-20 00:00 UT   18 41 01.8   -58 54 04    12.231   11.456   36.6    2.9   161   30.7 
2025-12-20 04:02 UT   18 41 08.6   -58 53 59    12.233   11.458   36.5    2.9   161   30.7 
2025-12-21 00:00 UT   18 41 42.3   -58 53 37    12.240   11.463   36.4    2.9   162   30.7 
2025-12-22 00:00 UT   18 42 22.9   -58 53 12    12.248   11.470   36.2    2.9   163   30.7 
2025-12-23 00:00 UT   18 43 03.5   -58 52 49    12.257   11.477   36.1    2.9   165   30.7 
2025-12-24 00:00 UT   18 43 44.1   -58 52 29    12.265   11.484   36.0    2.9   166   30.7 
2025-12-25 00:00 UT   18 44 24.8   -58 52 10    12.273   11.491   35.9    2.9   168   30.7 
2025-12-26 00:00 UT   18 45 05.5   -58 51 54    12.281   11.498   35.8    2.9   169   30.7 
2025-12-27 00:00 UT   18 45 46.2   -58 51 40    12.288   11.505   35.8    2.9   171   30.7 
2025-12-28 00:00 UT   18 46 26.9   -58 51 28    12.295   11.512   35.7    2.9   172   30.7 
2025-12-29 00:00 UT   18 47 07.6   -58 51 18    12.302   11.519   35.7    2.9   174   30.7 
2025-12-30 00:00 UT   18 47 48.3   -58 51 11    12.309   11.526   35.7    2.9   175   30.7 

    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.