C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon-Yeung-PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	22 Aug 2017	13.4	2.706 AU	1.726 AU	21h36m	+04°51'	161.9°	6.7°	156°
Perihelion	1 Sep 2017	13.4	2.704 AU	1.764 AU	21h00m	+00°37'	153.3°	9.6°	110°
Today	17 Mar 2026	27.7	21.168 AU	20.227 AU	12h09m	-17°11'	160.4°	0.9°	342°

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)                : 1.0023850
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.7041400
    i (Inclination)                 : 165.83270
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 95.42190
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.07120
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 145.48212
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.95384
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457997.59250

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 16
    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
2026-03-16 00:00 UT   12 09 35.5   -17 13 13    20.226   21.162  159.6    0.9   340   27.7 
2026-03-17 00:00 UT   12 09 23.0   -17 12 05    20.227   21.167  160.3    0.9   342   27.7 
2026-03-17 04:32 UT   12 09 20.7   -17 11 52    20.227   21.168  160.4    0.9   342   27.7 
2026-03-18 00:00 UT   12 09 10.6   -17 10 55    20.228   21.172  161.0    0.9   344   27.7 
2026-03-19 00:00 UT   12 08 58.1   -17 09 45    20.229   21.177  161.6    0.8   347   27.7 
2026-03-20 00:00 UT   12 08 45.6   -17 08 34    20.231   21.182  162.2    0.8   350   27.7 
2026-03-21 00:00 UT   12 08 33.1   -17 07 21    20.233   21.187  162.8    0.8   353   27.7 
2026-03-22 00:00 UT   12 08 20.6   -17 06 08    20.235   21.192  163.3    0.8   356   27.7 
2026-03-23 00:00 UT   12 08 08.1   -17 04 54    20.237   21.196  163.7    0.8   359   27.7 
2026-03-24 00:00 UT   12 07 55.6   -17 03 39    20.240   21.201  164.1    0.7     3   27.7 
2026-03-25 00:00 UT   12 07 43.1   -17 02 23    20.244   21.206  164.5    0.7     6   27.7 
2026-03-26 00:00 UT   12 07 30.7   -17 01 07    20.247   21.211  164.7    0.7    10   27.7 
2026-03-27 00:00 UT   12 07 18.2   -16 59 49    20.251   21.216  164.9    0.7    14   27.7 

    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.