C/2024 A1 (ATLAS) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Today | 8 Sep 2024 | 17.1 | 4.559 AU | 5.060 AU | 08h00m | -25°53' | 55.1° | 10.4° | 242° |
Nearest approach | 28 Jan 2025 | 15.7 | 4.054 AU | 3.276 AU | 07h03m | -16°57' | 137.2° | 9.5° | 36° |
Perihelion | 13 Jun 2025 | 16.3 | 3.876 AU | 4.777 AU | 07h08m | +17°02' | 24.5° | 6.2° | 109° |
C/2024 A1 (ATLAS)- 2024-09-08
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2024 A1 (ATLAS) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0013520
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.8757620
i (Inclination) : 94.44720
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 112.14010
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 353.29820
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 112.66213
B (Latitude of perihelion) : -6.68153
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2460840.17680
Epoch : 2024 Jun 06
Reference : MPEC 2024-KD0
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (7.00 + 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
2024-09-08 00:00 UT 08 00 35.5 -25 53 46 5.061 4.559 55.1 10.4 242 17.1
2024-09-08 00:39 UT 08 00 36.5 -25 53 46 5.060 4.559 55.1 10.4 242 17.1
2024-09-09 00:00 UT 08 01 10.9 -25 53 46 5.050 4.555 55.4 10.5 243 17.1
2024-09-10 00:00 UT 08 01 45.7 -25 53 50 5.039 4.550 55.8 10.5 244 17.1
2024-09-11 00:00 UT 08 02 20.1 -25 53 58 5.028 4.546 56.2 10.6 244 17.1
2024-09-12 00:00 UT 08 02 54.0 -25 54 10 5.017 4.542 56.6 10.7 245 17.1
2024-09-13 00:00 UT 08 03 27.3 -25 54 26 5.006 4.537 57.0 10.7 246 17.1
2024-09-14 00:00 UT 08 04 00.1 -25 54 45 4.994 4.533 57.4 10.8 247 17.1
2024-09-15 00:00 UT 08 04 32.4 -25 55 07 4.983 4.528 57.9 10.8 248 17.0
2024-09-16 00:00 UT 08 05 04.1 -25 55 33 4.971 4.524 58.3 10.9 249 17.0
2024-09-17 00:00 UT 08 05 35.3 -25 56 02 4.959 4.520 58.7 11.0 250 17.0
2024-09-18 00:00 UT 08 06 05.9 -25 56 35 4.947 4.515 59.2 11.0 251 17.0
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.