C/2018 R5 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	27 Sep 2018	19.5	3.740 AU	2.838 AU	22h49m	+23°00'	150.0°	7.7°	132°
Perihelion	10 Jan 2019	20.2	3.639 AU	4.194 AU	22h42m	-06°34'	49.9°	11.9°	67°
Today	31 Oct 2024	28.6	13.677 AU	14.237 AU	10h59m	-48°47'	53.9°	3.4°	248°

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)                : 0.8416630
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.6385420
            i (Inclination)                 : 103.70810
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.23480
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 178.26900
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.64512
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.68168
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458494.17400
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 110.16

            Epoch                           : 2024 Oct 29
            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
2024-10-31 00:00 UT   10 59 05.1   -48 47 43    14.237   13.677   53.9    3.4   248   28.6 
2024-10-31 01:08 UT   10 59 05.7   -48 47 51    14.237   13.677   53.9    3.4   248   28.6 
2024-11-01 00:00 UT   10 59 18.9   -48 50 20    14.237   13.681   54.3    3.4   249   28.6 
2024-11-02 00:00 UT   10 59 32.4   -48 52 57    14.236   13.686   54.6    3.4   250   28.6 
2024-11-03 00:00 UT   10 59 45.6   -48 55 36    14.235   13.690   54.9    3.4   251   28.6 
2024-11-04 00:00 UT   10 59 58.5   -48 58 16    14.234   13.695   55.3    3.4   252   28.6 
2024-11-05 00:00 UT   11 00 11.1   -49 00 57    14.233   13.699   55.7    3.4   253   28.6 
2024-11-06 00:00 UT   11 00 23.3   -49 03 39    14.232   13.704   56.1    3.4   254   28.6 
2024-11-07 00:00 UT   11 00 35.2   -49 06 21    14.231   13.708   56.4    3.5   255   28.6 
2024-11-08 00:00 UT   11 00 46.8   -49 09 05    14.229   13.712   56.8    3.5   256   28.6 
2024-11-09 00:00 UT   11 00 58.0   -49 11 50    14.227   13.717   57.2    3.5   257   28.6 
2024-11-10 00:00 UT   11 01 08.9   -49 14 35    14.225   13.721   57.7    3.5   258   28.6 

    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.