Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS)
Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) is currently in the constellation of Taurus, at a distance of 623,281,331 kilometers from Earth.
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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.
Today's rise, transit and set times of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) from Greenwich, United Kingdom (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):
- C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom.
- Right now it is placed in the West-North-West direction at an altitude of 12° above the horizon.
- Given its current magnitude, C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) is visible only through long exposure photography.
- Go to interactive sky chart
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Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) Position and Finder Charts
Field of view: 10x6 degrees
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Higher precision deep sky finder chart, 60 arcmin wide, showing where Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) is right now. Click on the image to see a more detailed fullscreen tracker view.
Also check out Where is Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS)?, a page that provides all the information needed to find Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) in the sky and additional links to sky charts.
Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) Distance from Earth
The distance of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) from Earth is currently 623,281,331 kilometers, equivalent to 4.166378 Astronomical Units. Light takes 34 minutes and 39.0427 seconds to travel from Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) and arrive to us.
The following chart shows the distance of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) from Earth as a function of time. In the chart the distance data is measured in Astronomical Units and sampled with an interval of 1 day.
The value of the reported distance might be somewhat inaccurate around the times of closest approach for objects passing extremely close to Earth. The value of the distance of C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) from Earth is also available as a real time updated value in the Live Position and Data Tracker.
Closest Approach of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) to Earth
Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2099, the closest approach of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) to Earth happens on Mon Nov 6 2023 at a distance of 1.184162 Astronomical Units, or 177,148,157 kilometers:
NOTE: values for the closest approach are computed with a sampling interval of 1 day.
Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) Brightness and Light Curve
The following chart is the predicted light curve (visual magnitude as a function of time) of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS), according to the most recent ephemerides data. Magnitude data is sampled with a 2 days interval and there might be inaccuracies for objects changing brightness very rapidly during the course of a few days. For comets there could be large discrepancies between the observed and predicted brightness because of their highly dynamic behaviour.
Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) Orbital Elements
The following table lists the orbital elements of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) at epoch 30 September 2023 00:00 UTC (JD: 2460218.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database
Element | Symbol | Value |
---|---|---|
Orbit eccentricity | e | 0.97597290 |
Orbit inclination | i | 20.42341784° |
Perihelion distance | q | 1.06155253 AU 158,805,999 km |
Aphelion distance | Q |
87.30138993 AU 13,060,102,069 km |
Semi-major axis | a |
44.18147123 AU 6,609,454,034 km |
Orbital period | period |
293.6760 years 107,265.1606 days |
Date of perihelion transit | Tp | 2023-Oct-15 12:00:52 2,460,233.0006 JD |
Next perihelion transit | 2317-Jun-21 15:52 2,567,498.1612 JD |
|
Argument of perihelion | peri | 78.507012223681° |
Longitude of the ascending node | node | 230.73194326925° |
Mean anomaly | M | 359.95133350316° |
Mean motion | n | 0.00335617°/day |
Visualization of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) Orbit
This 3d orbit diagram is a feature of our 3D Solar System Simulator and shows the orbit of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) with respect of the Sun and the orbits of the major planets. The position of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) and the planets along their orbits in this diagram accurately represents the current configuration of the objects in the Solar System. This is an experimental feature and it requires a WebGL enabled browser. Please provide us feedback!
View Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) in the 3D Solar System Simulator
Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) 15 Days Ephemeris
The following table lists the ephemerides of Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) computed for the past and next 7 days, with a 24 hours interval. Click on each row of the table to locate Comet C/2023 S2 (ATLAS) in our Online Planetarium at the chosen date.
Date | Right AscensionR.A. | DeclinationDec. | MagnitudeMag | Constellation |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 May 08 | 03h 33m 33s | +17° 09’ 42” | 23.12 | Taurus |
2024 May 09 | 03h 35m 00s | +17° 12’ 20” | 23.15 | Taurus |
2024 May 10 | 03h 36m 28s | +17° 14’ 54” | 23.17 | Taurus |
2024 May 11 | 03h 37m 54s | +17° 17’ 26” | 23.19 | Taurus |
2024 May 12 | 03h 39m 21s | +17° 19’ 53” | 23.21 | Taurus |
2024 May 13 | 03h 40m 48s | +17° 22’ 17” | 23.23 | Taurus |
2024 May 14 | 03h 42m 14s | +17° 24’ 37” | 23.26 | Taurus |
2024 May 15 | 03h 43m 40s | +17° 26’ 54” | 23.28 | Taurus |
2024 May 16 | 03h 45m 05s | +17° 29’ 08” | 23.30 | Taurus |
2024 May 17 | 03h 46m 28s | +17° 31’ 18” | 23.32 | Taurus |
2024 May 18 | 03h 47m 53s | +17° 33’ 25” | 23.34 | Taurus |
2024 May 19 | 03h 49m 18s | +17° 35’ 29” | 23.36 | Taurus |
2024 May 20 | 03h 50m 40s | +17° 37’ 28” | 23.38 | Taurus |
2024 May 21 | 03h 52m 04s | +17° 39’ 25” | 23.40 | Taurus |