C/2024 G7 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	10 Feb 2025	18.8	6.028 AU	6.366 AU	17h22m	-65°09'	65.7°	8.6°	251°
Nearest approach	22 May 2025	18.5	6.070 AU	5.345 AU	14h32m	-66°23'	132.1°	7.1°	27°
Today	17 Oct 2025	19.2	6.274 AU	7.061 AU	13h59m	-43°42'	35.3°	5.3°	166°

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. 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. (7.0 + 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/2024 G7 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0018620
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 6.0275590
    i (Inclination)                 : 131.51250
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 191.96770
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 289.65380
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 253.64959
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -44.84465
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460716.53990

    Epoch                           : 2025 Oct 15
    Reference                       : MPC184412

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-10-16 00:00 UT   13 59 08.1   -43 44 60     7.053    6.272   35.8    5.3   165   19.2 
2025-10-17 00:00 UT   13 59 39.7   -43 42 48     7.061    6.274   35.3    5.3   166   19.2 
2025-10-17 00:35 UT   13 59 40.5   -43 42 45     7.061    6.274   35.3    5.3   166   19.2 
2025-10-18 00:00 UT   14 00 11.4   -43 40 41     7.068    6.276   34.8    5.2   167   19.2 
2025-10-19 00:00 UT   14 00 43.0   -43 38 39     7.076    6.278   34.3    5.1   169   19.2 
2025-10-20 00:00 UT   14 01 14.6   -43 36 41     7.083    6.280   33.8    5.1   170   19.2 
2025-10-21 00:00 UT   14 01 46.2   -43 34 48     7.090    6.281   33.3    5.0   171   19.2 
2025-10-22 00:00 UT   14 02 17.8   -43 32 59     7.097    6.283   32.8    4.9   173   19.2 
2025-10-23 00:00 UT   14 02 49.3   -43 31 14     7.103    6.285   32.4    4.9   174   19.2 
2025-10-24 00:00 UT   14 03 20.8   -43 29 33     7.110    6.287   31.9    4.8   175   19.2 
2025-10-25 00:00 UT   14 03 52.3   -43 27 57     7.116    6.289   31.5    4.7   177   19.2 
2025-10-26 00:00 UT   14 04 23.7   -43 26 25     7.121    6.291   31.1    4.7   178   19.3 
2025-10-27 00:00 UT   14 04 55.0   -43 24 57     7.127    6.293   30.7    4.6   180   19.3 

    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.