C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon-Yeung-PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	22 Aug 2017	13.4	2.704 AU	1.725 AU	21h36m	+04°53'	161.9°	6.7°	156°
Perihelion	1 Sep 2017	13.4	2.702 AU	1.763 AU	20h59m	+00°37'	153.2°	9.7°	110°
Today	14 May 2026	27.8	21.457 AU	20.778 AU	11h58m	-15°50'	131.1°	2.0°	101°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.9 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon-Yeung-PANSTARRS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0023450
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.7024780
    i (Inclination)                 : 165.83260
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 95.41610
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.04930
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 145.49833
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.95736
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457997.67540

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 13
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-13 00:00 UT   11 58 57.8   -15 52 26    20.752   21.449  132.5    2.0   100   27.8 
2026-05-14 00:00 UT   11 58 50.1   -15 51 03    20.769   21.454  131.6    2.0   101   27.8 
2026-05-14 13:17 UT   11 58 45.9   -15 50 16    20.778   21.457  131.1    2.0   101   27.8 
2026-05-15 00:00 UT   11 58 42.6   -15 49 39    20.786   21.459  130.6    2.0   101   27.8 
2026-05-16 00:00 UT   11 58 35.2   -15 48 17    20.803   21.464  129.7    2.1   102   27.8 
2026-05-17 00:00 UT   11 58 28.0   -15 46 54    20.821   21.469  128.8    2.1   102   27.8 
2026-05-18 00:00 UT   11 58 21.0   -15 45 33    20.838   21.474  127.8    2.1   103   27.8 
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   11 58 14.1   -15 44 12    20.856   21.478  126.9    2.2   103   27.8 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   11 58 07.4   -15 42 52    20.874   21.483  125.9    2.2   103   27.8 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   11 58 00.9   -15 41 32    20.892   21.488  125.0    2.2   104   27.8 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   11 57 54.5   -15 40 13    20.910   21.493  124.0    2.2   104   27.8 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   11 57 48.3   -15 38 55    20.928   21.498  123.1    2.3   105   27.8 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   11 57 42.3   -15 37 37    20.947   21.503  122.1    2.3   105   27.8 

    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.