C/2018 R5 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Sep 2018	19.5	3.738 AU	2.837 AU	22h49m	+23°04'	149.9°	7.7°	132°
Perihelion	10 Jan 2019	20.2	3.637 AU	4.193 AU	22h43m	-06°32'	49.8°	11.9°	67°
Today	17 Jan 2026	29.4	15.574 AU	15.372 AU	11h01m	-47°27'	100.0°	3.6°	316°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (11.5 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2018 R5 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8417060
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.6368300
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.66400
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.29310
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 178.26700
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.70260
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.68394
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458494.32870
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 110.13

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPC114603

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); Halley type (P < 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-01-16 00:00 UT   11 01 28.3   -47 26 06    15.381   15.568   99.1    3.6   315   29.4 
2026-01-17 00:00 UT   11 01 14.6   -47 27 11    15.374   15.573   99.8    3.6   316   29.4 
2026-01-17 06:14 UT   11 01 11.0   -47 27 28    15.372   15.574  100.0    3.6   316   29.4 
2026-01-18 00:00 UT   11 01 00.6   -47 28 14    15.367   15.577  100.5    3.6   317   29.4 
2026-01-19 00:00 UT   11 00 46.2   -47 29 13    15.360   15.581  101.2    3.6   318   29.4 
2026-01-20 00:00 UT   11 00 31.7   -47 30 10    15.353   15.585  101.9    3.5   319   29.4 
2026-01-21 00:00 UT   11 00 16.8   -47 31 03    15.345   15.589  102.5    3.5   320   29.4 
2026-01-22 00:00 UT   11 00 01.6   -47 31 53    15.338   15.593  103.2    3.5   320   29.4 
2026-01-23 00:00 UT   10 59 46.2   -47 32 40    15.332   15.597  103.9    3.5   321   29.4 
2026-01-24 00:00 UT   10 59 30.5   -47 33 24    15.325   15.601  104.5    3.5   322   29.4 
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   10 59 14.5   -47 34 05    15.318   15.605  105.2    3.5   323   29.4 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   10 58 58.3   -47 34 42    15.311   15.610  105.9    3.5   324   29.4 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   10 58 41.8   -47 35 16    15.305   15.614  106.5    3.5   325   29.4 

    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.