C/2018 U1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	18 Jun 2021	15.2	5.090 AU	4.128 AU	17h19m	-03°36'	159.0°	4.1°	162°
Perihelion	1 Nov 2021	15.9	4.981 AU	5.809 AU	16h31m	-22°05'	30.7°	5.8°	99°
Today	12 Aug 2026	21.1	12.802 AU	13.215 AU	07h34m	-43°27'	63.9°	4.1°	211°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 6.3 + 5 log[∆] + 8.3 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 U1 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9992380
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.9814020
    i (Inclination)                 : 108.32960
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 75.49060
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 180.26980
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 75.40575
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -0.25611
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459519.88260
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 528560.77

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 12
    Reference                       : MPC194157

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   07 33 55.2   -43 25 14    13.206   12.792   63.8    4.1   209   21.1 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   07 34 12.7   -43 26 31    13.211   12.797   63.9    4.1   210   21.1 
2026-08-12 23:06 UT   07 34 29.4   -43 27 49    13.215   12.802   63.9    4.1   211   21.1 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   07 34 30.0   -43 27 52    13.215   12.803   63.9    4.1   211   21.1 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   07 34 47.1   -43 29 16    13.219   12.808   64.0    4.1   212   21.1 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   07 35 04.0   -43 30 44    13.223   12.813   64.1    4.1   213   21.1 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   07 35 20.8   -43 32 15    13.227   12.819   64.2    4.1   214   21.1 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   07 35 37.3   -43 33 48    13.231   12.824   64.3    4.1   215   21.1 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   07 35 53.6   -43 35 25    13.234   12.829   64.4    4.1   216   21.1 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   07 36 09.7   -43 37 05    13.238   12.835   64.5    4.1   217   21.1 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   07 36 25.5   -43 38 48    13.241   12.840   64.6    4.1   218   21.1 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   07 36 41.2   -43 40 34    13.244   12.845   64.7    4.1   219   21.1 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   07 36 56.6   -43 42 23    13.248   12.850   64.8    4.1   220   21.1 

    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.