C/2018 B1 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 12 Dec 2017 | 17.5 | 5.194 AU | 4.249 AU | 04h58m | +40°37' | 161.9° | 3.4° | 164° |
Perihelion | 27 Mar 2018 | 18.1 | 5.134 AU | 5.685 AU | 03h21m | +33°40' | 52.2° | 8.8° | 63° |
Today | 4 Jul 2025 | 25.7 | 17.388 AU | 16.503 AU | 21h00m | -17°54' | 149.6° | 1.7° | 255° |
C/2018 B1 (Lemmon)- 2025-07-04
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2018 B1 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9984870
q (Perihelion distance) : 5.1337890
i (Inclination) : 162.42000
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 133.19100
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 68.41520
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 65.72962
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 16.31133
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458204.52710
P (Orbital period in years) : 197650.82
Epoch : 2023 Apr 14
Reference : MPEC 2022-O08
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
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 (9.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 7.25 + 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
2025-07-04 00:00 UT 21 00 16.8 -17 54 15 16.503 17.387 149.6 1.7 255 25.7
2025-07-04 00:53 UT 21 00 16.2 -17 54 18 16.503 17.388 149.6 1.7 255 25.7
2025-07-05 00:00 UT 21 00 02.1 -17 55 31 16.499 17.392 150.6 1.6 255 25.7
2025-07-06 00:00 UT 20 59 47.2 -17 56 47 16.496 17.397 151.6 1.6 255 25.7
2025-07-07 00:00 UT 20 59 32.3 -17 58 03 16.493 17.402 152.6 1.5 255 25.7
2025-07-08 00:00 UT 20 59 17.2 -17 59 20 16.490 17.407 153.6 1.5 255 25.7
2025-07-09 00:00 UT 20 59 02.0 -18 00 37 16.487 17.412 154.7 1.4 256 25.7
2025-07-10 00:00 UT 20 58 46.7 -18 01 55 16.485 17.417 155.7 1.4 256 25.7
2025-07-11 00:00 UT 20 58 31.2 -18 03 13 16.483 17.422 156.7 1.3 256 25.7
2025-07-12 00:00 UT 20 58 15.7 -18 04 31 16.481 17.426 157.7 1.3 256 25.7
2025-07-13 00:00 UT 20 58 00.1 -18 05 49 16.480 17.431 158.7 1.2 256 25.7
2025-07-14 00:00 UT 20 57 44.4 -18 07 08 16.479 17.436 159.7 1.2 256 25.7
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.