C/2018 R5 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Nearest approach | 28 Sep 2018 | 19.5 | 3.739 AU | 2.838 AU | 22h49m | +23°02' | 150.0° | 7.7° | 132° |
Perihelion | 10 Jan 2019 | 20.2 | 3.638 AU | 4.194 AU | 22h43m | -06°33' | 49.8° | 11.9° | 67° |
Today | 3 Jul 2025 | 29.0 | 14.748 AU | 14.831 AU | 10h27m | -44°25' | 83.3° | 3.9° | 132° |
C/2018 R5 (Lemmon)- 2025-07-03
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 R5 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.8416980
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.6377620
i (Inclination) : 103.68030
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.27270
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 178.27180
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 171.68154
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 1.67916
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2458494.28490
P (Orbital period in years) : 110.16
Epoch : 2025 Jul 03
Reference : MPC114603
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (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 light curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from an MPEC, or the latest values provided by the minor planet center. (11.50 + 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
2025-07-03 00:00 UT 10 26 54.1 -44 27 49 14.816 14.743 83.9 3.9 131 29.0
2025-07-03 23:45 UT 10 27 07.6 -44 25 10 14.831 14.748 83.3 3.9 132 29.0
2025-07-04 00:00 UT 10 27 07.7 -44 25 08 14.831 14.748 83.3 3.9 132 29.0
2025-07-05 00:00 UT 10 27 21.6 -44 22 30 14.846 14.752 82.7 3.9 132 29.0
2025-07-06 00:00 UT 10 27 35.7 -44 19 55 14.861 14.756 82.1 3.9 133 29.1
2025-07-07 00:00 UT 10 27 49.9 -44 17 23 14.877 14.760 81.5 3.9 134 29.1
2025-07-08 00:00 UT 10 28 04.5 -44 14 54 14.892 14.765 80.9 3.9 134 29.1
2025-07-09 00:00 UT 10 28 19.2 -44 12 28 14.907 14.769 80.2 3.9 135 29.1
2025-07-10 00:00 UT 10 28 34.1 -44 10 04 14.922 14.773 79.6 3.9 136 29.1
2025-07-11 00:00 UT 10 28 49.2 -44 07 44 14.937 14.777 79.0 3.9 136 29.1
2025-07-12 00:00 UT 10 29 04.5 -44 05 26 14.952 14.782 78.4 3.9 137 29.1
2025-07-13 00:00 UT 10 29 20.0 -44 03 12 14.967 14.786 77.8 3.9 138 29.1
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.