C/2018 EF9 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 13 Mar 2018 | 14.8 | 1.816 AU | 1.060 AU | 14h01m | +48°44' | 124.3° | 26.9° | 227° |
Perihelion | 20 May 2018 | 15.2 | 1.564 AU | 1.684 AU | 04h56m | +85°13' | 65.5° | 36.1° | 18° |
Today | 29 Mar 2024 | 30.6 | 16.768 AU | 17.556 AU | 00h54m | -32°57' | 36.8° | 2.0° | 171° |
C/2018 EF9 (Lemmon)- 2024-03-29
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 EF9 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9963920
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.5637500
i (Inclination) : 84.65510
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 172.58050
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 72.64170
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 189.17480
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 71.86168
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458258.93940
P (Orbital period in years) : 9023.00
Epoch : 2023 Sep 24
Reference : MPEC 2023-CD7
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 (18.00 + 5 log[∆] + 5.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 12.11 + 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
2024-03-29 00:00 UT 00 54 14.2 -32 58 19 17.555 16.766 36.7 2.0 170 30.6
2024-03-29 10:15 UT 00 54 20.9 -32 57 55 17.556 16.768 36.8 2.0 171 30.6
2024-03-30 00:00 UT 00 54 29.9 -32 57 23 17.558 16.771 37.0 2.1 172 30.6
2024-03-31 00:00 UT 00 54 45.7 -32 56 29 17.560 16.777 37.3 2.1 173 30.6
2024-04-01 00:00 UT 00 55 01.4 -32 55 37 17.563 16.783 37.6 2.1 175 30.6
2024-04-02 00:00 UT 00 55 17.2 -32 54 47 17.565 16.788 37.9 2.1 176 30.6
2024-04-03 00:00 UT 00 55 33.0 -32 53 59 17.567 16.794 38.2 2.1 177 30.6
2024-04-04 00:00 UT 00 55 48.7 -32 53 13 17.569 16.799 38.6 2.1 179 30.6
2024-04-05 00:00 UT 00 56 04.5 -32 52 29 17.571 16.805 38.9 2.1 180 30.6
2024-04-06 00:00 UT 00 56 20.3 -32 51 48 17.572 16.811 39.3 2.2 182 30.6
2024-04-07 00:00 UT 00 56 36.0 -32 51 08 17.574 16.816 39.7 2.2 183 30.6
2024-04-08 00:00 UT 00 56 51.8 -32 50 30 17.575 16.822 40.1 2.2 184 30.6
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.