C/2022 W2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Jan 2023	18.2	3.157 AU	2.811 AU	22h16m	+80°04'	101.4°	17.8°	30°
Perihelion	8 Mar 2023	18.3	3.125 AU	2.962 AU	04h04m	+74°17'	90.1°	18.5°	72°
Today	11 May 2025	24.0	7.513 AU	7.270 AU	09h22m	-26°27'	100.0°	7.6°	105°

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 W2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9908930
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.1246780
            i (Inclination)                 : 63.50360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 320.43790
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 123.31160
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 286.26586
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 48.41023
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460012.24940
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 6355.43

            Epoch                           : 2025 May 10
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-EF7

            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 (11.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 10.98 + 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
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   09 22 53.4   -26 29 02     7.261    7.510  100.4    7.6   105   24.0 
2025-05-11 11:02 UT   09 22 55.1   -26 27 52     7.270    7.513  100.0    7.6   105   24.0 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   09 22 57.2   -26 26 31     7.281    7.516   99.6    7.6   105   24.1 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   09 23 01.6   -26 24 03     7.300    7.523   98.9    7.6   106   24.1 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   09 23 06.5   -26 21 39     7.319    7.530   98.2    7.6   107   24.1 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   09 23 11.9   -26 19 17     7.338    7.537   97.4    7.6   107   24.1 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   09 23 17.9   -26 16 58     7.358    7.543   96.7    7.6   108   24.1 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   09 23 24.4   -26 14 42     7.377    7.550   96.0    7.7   109   24.1 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   09 23 31.5   -26 12 30     7.397    7.557   95.2    7.7   109   24.1 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   09 23 39.0   -26 10 21     7.416    7.563   94.5    7.7   110   24.1 
2025-05-20 00:00 UT   09 23 47.1   -26 08 15     7.436    7.570   93.8    7.7   110   24.1 
2025-05-21 00:00 UT   09 23 55.7   -26 06 13     7.455    7.577   93.0    7.7   111   24.1 

    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.