C/2024 G6 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Today	21 Dec 2024	18.5	7.042 AU	7.991 AU	17h05m	-31°05'	14.3°	2.0°	241°
Perihelion	20 Feb 2026	17.6	6.429 AU	6.451 AU	16h37m	-01°52'	84.3°	8.8°	281°
Nearest approach	12 May 2026	17.3	6.452 AU	5.562 AU	15h59m	+10°28'	149.5°	4.6°	201°

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 G6 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0023560
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.4292110
            i (Inclination)                 : 120.45800
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 250.95180
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 23.45650
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 238.54702
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 20.06719
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2461092.41050

            Epoch                           : 2024 Dec 20
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-RQ6

            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. (5.50 + 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
2024-12-21 00:00 UT   17 04 46.8   -31 06 32     7.995    7.043   13.9    1.9   240   18.5 
2024-12-21 13:45 UT   17 05 02.1   -31 05 06     7.991    7.042   14.3    2.0   241   18.5 
2024-12-22 00:00 UT   17 05 13.5   -31 04 02     7.988    7.041   14.6    2.0   242   18.5 
2024-12-23 00:00 UT   17 05 40.0   -31 01 33     7.982    7.038   15.3    2.1   244   18.5 
2024-12-24 00:00 UT   17 06 06.4   -30 59 04     7.975    7.035   16.1    2.2   246   18.5 
2024-12-25 00:00 UT   17 06 32.7   -30 56 35     7.968    7.033   16.9    2.3   248   18.5 
2024-12-26 00:00 UT   17 06 58.9   -30 54 07     7.961    7.030   17.7    2.4   249   18.5 
2024-12-27 00:00 UT   17 07 24.9   -30 51 38     7.953    7.027   18.5    2.5   251   18.5 
2024-12-28 00:00 UT   17 07 50.7   -30 49 11     7.945    7.025   19.3    2.7   252   18.5 
2024-12-29 00:00 UT   17 08 16.4   -30 46 43     7.937    7.022   20.1    2.8   253   18.5 
2024-12-30 00:00 UT   17 08 42.0   -30 44 15     7.929    7.019   21.0    2.9   254   18.5 
2024-12-31 00:00 UT   17 09 07.3   -30 41 48     7.920    7.017   21.8    3.0   255   18.5 

    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.