Comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)
Comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) is in the constellation of Puppis, at a distance of
Finder Charts
The sky charts below show, at different resolutions, the position of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) in the sky. Click on each chart to access the interactive star map tool.
The following map uses photographic imagery from the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) to realistically visualize the precise position of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) against the stars in the background. The horizontal size of the map measures 60 arcminutes. Click on the image to access a more detailed full-screen view.
Equatorial Coordinates
Apparent
J2000
Additional Information
The observed values of Magnitude, Coma Diameter and Tail Length are derived from the most recent observation recorded at the Comet Observers Database. The value of Predicted Magnitude comes from the JPL Horizons ephemerides service and, in the case of comets, might be inaccurate given the highly dynamic and unpredictable behavior of these objects. When available, please refer to the Observed Magnitude value and consider the Predicted Magnitude as a directional indication. We acknowledge with thanks the comet observations from the COBS Comet Observation Database contributed by observers worldwide and used in this table to report recent comet observations.
Rise and Set Times
The following table lists today's rise, transit and set times of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from Greenwich, UK (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):
If you need to access this information frequently for your observations, you can create a simple customized Quick Access page, so that you can easily bookmark it in your browser favorites or add a shortcut to your mobile phones' home screen.
Distance from Earth
The distance of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from Earth is currently
The following graph shows the distance of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from Earth as a function of time. In the chart the distance is measured in Astronomical Units and the data is sampled with an interval of 1 day.
Note: The values in this chart may not be entirely accurate around the time of closest approach for objects passing very close to Earth at high speed (e.g., Near-Earth Objects).
The value of the distance of C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from Earth is also available as a real time updated value in the live position tracker.
Closest Approach to Earth
In the period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2099, the closest approach of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) to Earth will happen on Monday 19 January 2026 at a distance of 3.080437 Astronomical Units, or 460,826,792 kilometers:
Note: the values for the closest approach are computed with a sampling interval of 1 day.
Light Curve
The following chart shows the light curve of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS), i.e., its apparent magnitude as a function of time. The curve is calculated using the latest ephemerides provided by JPL Horizons. The magnitude data is sampled with the interval of 2 days. Because of this sampling, inaccuracies may occur for objects that have large variations of brightness over a few days. For comets, large discrepancies can arise between the calculated brightness and the observations due to their highly dynamic, and not always precisely predictable, behavior.
Orbital Elements
The following table lists the orbital elements of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) at epoch December, 15 2024 00:00 UTC (JD: 2460660.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database
| Element | Symbol | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit eccentricity | e | 0.90581934 |
| Orbit inclination | i | 109.13924159° |
| Perihelion distance | q | 3.67757662 AU 550,157,632 km |
| Aphelion distance | Q |
74.41864335 AU 11,132,870,609 km |
| Semi-major axis | a |
39.04810999 AU 5,841,514,120 km |
| Orbital period | period |
244.0103 years 89,124.7765 days |
| Date of perihelion transit | Tp | July 5, 2025 2,460,861.5234 JD |
| Next perihelion transit | July 10, 2269 2,549,986.2999 JD |
|
| Argument of perihelion | peri | 315.31012323157° |
| Longitude of the ascending node | node | 122.83996532447° |
| Mean anomaly | M | 359.18800991292° |
| Mean motion | n | 0.00403928°/day |
Orbit Visualization
The following chart is a 3D animated visualization of the orbit of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) relative to the other major objects in the Solar System. You can access more advanced features using our 3D Solar System Viewer.
15 Days Ephemeris
The following table lists the ephemerides of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) computed for the past and next 7 days, with a 24 hours interval. Apparent celestial coordinates are provided.
| Date | Right AscensionR.A. | DeclinationDec. | MagnitudeMag | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 03 2025 | 08h 16m 10s | -15° 49’ 19” | 18.34 | Puppis |
| Jul 04 2025 | 08h 16m 58s | -15° 39’ 17” | 18.35 | Puppis |
| Jul 05 2025 | 08h 17m 46s | -15° 29’ 26” | 18.35 | Puppis |
| Jul 06 2025 | 08h 18m 35s | -15° 19’ 44” | 18.36 | Puppis |
| Jul 07 2025 | 08h 19m 23s | -15° 10’ 12” | 18.36 | Puppis |
| Jul 08 2025 | 08h 20m 13s | -15° 00’ 49” | 18.36 | Puppis |
| Jul 09 2025 | 08h 21m 01s | -14° 51’ 36” | 18.37 | Puppis |
| Jul 10 2025 | 08h 21m 50s | -14° 42’ 31” | 18.37 | Puppis |
| Jul 11 2025 | 08h 22m 38s | -14° 33’ 36” | 18.38 | Puppis |
| Jul 12 2025 | 08h 23m 26s | -14° 24’ 49” | 18.38 | Puppis |
| Jul 13 2025 | 08h 24m 15s | -14° 16’ 12” | 18.38 | Puppis |
| Jul 14 2025 | 08h 25m 03s | -14° 07’ 43” | 18.39 | Puppis |
| Jul 15 2025 | 08h 25m 51s | -13° 59’ 23” | 18.39 | Puppis |
| Jul 16 2025 | 08h 26m 40s | -13° 51’ 11” | 18.39 | Puppis |
Additional Resources on TheSkyLive
- Comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS): Complete reference information on TheSkyLive.com.
- Where is comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)?: Key information on where to find comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) in the sky.
- Distance of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from Earth: Find out how far comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) is from Earth right now.
- How Bright is comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)?: Current visual brightness (magnitude) and apparent size.
- Rise and Set Times: Rise and set times of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) from your location.
- Interactive Sky Map: Planetarium-style interactive visualization of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)'s position in the sky.
- Live Position Tracker: High precision real time tracker of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)'s position using deep space imagery.
- Ephemeris: 15 days comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS)'s computed ephemeris.
- Orbital elements: Information about comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) orbital parameters.
- Orbit Visualization: 3D interactive visualization showing the orbit of comet C/2024 X2 (ATLAS) with respect to the major Solar System objects.