Observation details: comet C/2026 S2 (ATLAS)
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Daily motion of C/2026 S2 (ATLAS)
90004981 C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) will remain visible until March 18, when it moves too close to the Sun and temporarily disappears from the night sky.
C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) visibility on 2026-10-17
C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) Visible from before midnight until sunrise
C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 25.9% illuminated  | 11:16 | -19° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 17:55 | -41° |
| Moonset | 20:29 | -13° |
| C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) rise | 21:37 | |
| C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) transit | 03:35 | 52° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:51 | 52° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:21 | 51° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:51 | 48° |
| Sunrise | 05:19 | 45° |
| C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) set | 09:33 |
Track C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) position throughout the night
← 17 October 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) changing position in the night sky.
C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) Description
This comet is designated 90004981 C/2026 S2 (ATLAS), Jupiter-family comet. C/2026 S2 (ATLAS) completes an orbit around the Sun in 3201 years. It is currently 4.332 AU (647,987,665 km) from Earth, and is located in the constellation Orion.Current position in the Solar System: C/2026 S2 (ATLAS)
| Date | Sat, 17 October 2026 |
| Distance from Earth | 4.33153 AU (647,987,665km) |
| Elongation | 109° |
| Angular diameter | " |
| Magnitude | 18.7 |
Finder Chart for
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| Object name | |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| coordinates | 6.18963, -0.31919 |
| Center coordinates | 6.18963, -0.31919 |
Annual motion of C/2026 S2 (ATLAS)
| Date | Sun, 18 October 2026 |
| Twilight start | 17:54 |
| Twilight end | 03:49 |
| Twilight duration | 10h 55m |
| Rise | 21:32 |
| Set | 09:28 |
| Elevation at transit | 52° |
| Transit time | 03:30 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 06h 10m 29s", Dec: 00° 24' 42s |
| Magnitude | 19 |
| Constellation | Orion |
The graph summarizes the object’s annual visibility, daily observing windows and transit times.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
The vertical axis shows time of day and the horizontal axis shows the days of the year.
The shaded area marks when the object is above the horizon; the white line marks daily transit. You can also view the detailed annual visibility table.
Astrometric and Physical Parameters of 90004981 C/2026 S2 (ATLAS)
Coordinates and Visibility
| Right Ascension | 06h 11m 23s |
| Declination | 00° 19′ 09″ |
| Magnitude | 18.7 |
| Constellation | Orion |
| Elevation | 10.5° |
| Azimuth | 98.5° |
Acknowledgments
Orbital and small-body data are provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small-Body Database (SBDB) and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). These resources support accurate positions, orbits and physical characteristics.