C/2018 R3 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 24 May 2019 | 11.7 | 1.304 AU | 1.918 AU | 03h35m | +59°43' | 39.4° | 29.5° | 350° |
Perihelion | 7 Jun 2019 | 11.6 | 1.285 AU | 1.959 AU | 05h44m | +57°56' | 36.0° | 27.7° | 17° |
Today | 15 Jul 2025 | 35.6 | 17.565 AU | 17.542 AU | 09h39m | -65°11' | 89.6° | 3.3° | 152° |
C/2018 R3 (Lemmon)- 2025-07-15
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 R3 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9992880
q (Perihelion distance) : 1.2846630
i (Inclination) : 69.68580
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 324.35070
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 112.81400
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 284.81731
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 59.81850
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458642.48410
P (Orbital period in years) : 76641.47
Epoch : 2025 Jul 14
Reference : MPC118841
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 (9.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.32 + 5 log[∆] + 16.95 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
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 09 39 22.5 -65 12 29 17.532 17.560 89.9 3.3 152 35.6
2025-07-15 20:26 UT 09 39 44.9 -65 11 35 17.542 17.565 89.6 3.3 152 35.6
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 09 39 48.8 -65 11 25 17.544 17.566 89.5 3.3 153 35.6
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 09 40 15.2 -65 10 24 17.556 17.572 89.2 3.3 153 35.6
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 09 40 41.8 -65 09 26 17.568 17.577 88.9 3.3 154 35.6
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 09 41 08.5 -65 08 30 17.579 17.583 88.5 3.3 155 35.6
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 09 41 35.4 -65 07 38 17.591 17.588 88.2 3.3 156 35.7
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 09 42 02.5 -65 06 48 17.603 17.594 87.8 3.3 156 35.7
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 09 42 29.7 -65 06 01 17.615 17.599 87.5 3.3 157 35.7
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 09 42 57.1 -65 05 16 17.626 17.605 87.1 3.3 158 35.7
2025-07-24 00:00 UT 09 43 24.6 -65 04 35 17.638 17.611 86.8 3.3 159 35.7
2025-07-25 00:00 UT 09 43 52.3 -65 03 57 17.650 17.616 86.4 3.3 160 35.7
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.