C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon-Yeung-PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	21 Aug 2017	13.5	2.726 AU	1.745 AU	21h33m	+04°20'	162.2°	6.5°	157°
Perihelion	28 Aug 2017	13.5	2.725 AU	1.766 AU	21h06m	+01°19'	157.2°	8.2°	119°
Today	9 May 2025	27.2	19.590 AU	18.832 AU	12h06m	-16°46'	137.6°	2.0°	98°

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.)

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

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0019130
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.7251090
            i (Inclination)                 : 165.82460
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 95.21370
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 129.02130
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 145.32310
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.96789
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2457993.75870

            Epoch                           : 2022 Sep 14
            Reference                       : MPC115881

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (8.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.89 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).

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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.

The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.

A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Ephemerides:

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-05-09 00:00 UT   12 06 35.6   -16 46 30    18.828   19.588  137.9    2.0    97   27.2 
2025-05-09 06:20 UT   12 06 33.1   -16 46 05    18.832   19.590  137.6    2.0    98   27.2 
2025-05-10 00:00 UT   12 06 26.1   -16 44 55    18.843   19.593  136.9    2.0    98   27.2 
2025-05-11 00:00 UT   12 06 16.7   -16 43 20    18.859   19.599  136.0    2.1    99   27.2 
2025-05-12 00:00 UT   12 06 07.5   -16 41 46    18.875   19.604  135.0    2.1    99   27.2 
2025-05-13 00:00 UT   12 05 58.5   -16 40 12    18.892   19.609  134.1    2.1   100   27.2 
2025-05-14 00:00 UT   12 05 49.6   -16 38 39    18.908   19.614  133.2    2.2   100   27.2 
2025-05-15 00:00 UT   12 05 40.9   -16 37 06    18.925   19.619  132.2    2.2   101   27.2 
2025-05-16 00:00 UT   12 05 32.4   -16 35 34    18.942   19.624  131.3    2.2   101   27.2 
2025-05-17 00:00 UT   12 05 24.1   -16 34 02    18.959   19.629  130.3    2.3   101   27.2 
2025-05-18 00:00 UT   12 05 15.9   -16 32 31    18.977   19.634  129.4    2.3   102   27.2 
2025-05-19 00:00 UT   12 05 08.0   -16 31 01    18.994   19.640  128.4    2.3   102   27.2 

    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.