C/2022 R2 (ATLAS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach3 Oct 202213.70.788 AU1.015 AU10h14m+27°12'46.0°66.0°307°
Perihelion25 Oct 202213.10.630 AU1.232 AU13h20m+17°01'30.6°53.4°342°
Today13 Jun 202529.610.100 AU9.337 AU18h53m-64°06'136.6°4.0°330°
C/2022 R2 (ATLAS)- 2025-06-13
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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 R2 (ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9985640
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 0.6302560
            i (Inclination)                 : 52.89360
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 60.39330
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 78.32080
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 131.47998
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 51.35269
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459878.04700
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 9194.83

            Epoch                           : 2025 Jun 11
            Reference                       : MPEC 2022-Y15

            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 (17.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 14.67 + 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
2025-06-13 00:00 UT   18 53 07.7   -64 06 38     9.337   10.099  136.6    4.0   330   29.6 
2025-06-13 03:12 UT   18 53 01.2   -64 06 54     9.337   10.100  136.6    4.0   330   29.6 
2025-06-14 00:00 UT   18 52 18.8   -64 08 39     9.341   10.106  136.9    3.9   331   29.6 
2025-06-15 00:00 UT   18 51 29.6   -64 10 36     9.345   10.114  137.1    3.9   333   29.6 
2025-06-16 00:00 UT   18 50 40.0   -64 12 27     9.350   10.121  137.4    3.9   335   29.6 
2025-06-17 00:00 UT   18 49 50.1   -64 14 14     9.354   10.128  137.6    3.9   336   29.6 
2025-06-18 00:00 UT   18 48 59.8   -64 15 55     9.359   10.136  137.8    3.9   338   29.6 
2025-06-19 00:00 UT   18 48 09.3   -64 17 32     9.365   10.143  138.0    3.8   340   29.6 
2025-06-20 00:00 UT   18 47 18.4   -64 19 03     9.370   10.150  138.2    3.8   341   29.6 
2025-06-21 00:00 UT   18 46 27.4   -64 20 29     9.376   10.158  138.3    3.8   343   29.6 
2025-06-22 00:00 UT   18 45 36.1   -64 21 50     9.382   10.165  138.5    3.8   345   29.6 
2025-06-23 00:00 UT   18 44 44.6   -64 23 05     9.388   10.172  138.6    3.8   347   29.6 

































































    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.