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Adding C/2025 N1 (3I/Atlas) To Starry Night

Andre D Ficklin

October 23, 2025 20:19

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Hi Keiron, I remember there was someone asking if orbital elements for C/2025 N1 (3I/Atlas) could be added to Starry Night and I think the response was to use SkySafari Pro. I was able to find orbital data for 3I/Atlas and entered that data into Starry Night. Here is the link to the data from NASA's JPL Small Body Database Lookup: https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20n1 I sent you a detailed email on Saturday Oct 18th showing C/2025 N1 (3i/Atlas) in Starry Night and in SkySafari 7 Pro. Regards, Andre

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I remember there was someone asking if orbital elements for C/2025 N1 (3I/Atlas) could be added to Starry Night and I think the response was to use SkySafari 7 Pro. I was able to find orbital data for 3I/Atlas and entered that data into Starry Night Pro Plus 8. Here is the link to the orbital data from NASA's JPL Small Body Database Lookup: 

 

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20n1

 

 

After entering this data in the orbiter editor in Starry Night I think I got good results to track 3I/Atlas in Starry Night. Can you confirm? I have a comparison with SkySafari 7 Pro that is also installed on my MacBook Pro.

 

SkySafari Pro 7
Data: October 18th, 2025. In view is Mercury, Mars, Autumnal Equinox, the Moon, Venus ands 3i/Atlas next to the Sun.

 

 

Starry Night Pro Plus 8

Data: October 18th, 2025. In view is Mercury, Mars, Autumnal Equinox, the Moon, Venus ands 3i/Atlas next to the Sun.

 

 

Enjoy!

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1 comment

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  Keiron Smith October 24, 2025 20:06

  Hi Andre, 

  Developers have suggested the issue with adding the comet has to do with the Starry Night orbital elements architecture - that the application cannot actually accurately simulate an object with such an eccentric trajectory.  Such objects were never expected when Starry Night was initially developed, and it is not easy to just patch it now.

  So, it is possible you have found a way to add C/2025 N1 (3I/Atlas) to Starry Night, and that your simulation via these orbital elements is approximate but not perfect.

  That said, I am happy to be wrong, and likely other Starry Night users will add C/2025 N1 (3I/Atlas) via the orbital elements you have provided and also offer feedback on accuracy.

  Thanks soooooooooo much for sharing this with the community - and for email me direct!