P/2019 A6 (Lemmon-PANSTARRS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	31 Aug 2018	20.7	1.927 AU	2.350 AU	07h11m	+32°57'	53.4°	24.9°	285°
Nearest approach	8 Jan 2019	20.4	2.300 AU	1.463 AU	08h58m	-09°53'	139.3°	16.2°	322°
Today	23 Apr 2024	29.9	8.737 AU	8.052 AU	17h14m	-39°32'	130.3°	5.0°	289°

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 P/2019 A6 (Lemmon-PANSTARRS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.6403530
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.9265720
            i (Inclination)                 : 33.28090
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 280.18830
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 156.20650
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 259.95429
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 12.79046
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458362.08190
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 12.40

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 22
            Reference                       : MPC114605

            Classification(s):              : Ecliptic; Jupiter family
            Tisserand (Jupiter)             : 2.274
        

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. (16.00 + 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
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   17 14 46.0   -39 32 02     8.056    8.737  130.0    5.1   289   29.9 
2024-04-23 08:35 UT   17 14 39.3   -39 32 12     8.052    8.737  130.3    5.0   289   29.9 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   17 14 27.1   -39 32 30     8.045    8.737  130.9    5.0   290   29.9 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   17 14 07.6   -39 32 56     8.034    8.738  131.9    4.9   290   29.9 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   17 13 47.6   -39 33 19     8.022    8.738  132.9    4.8   291   29.9 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   17 13 27.2   -39 33 41     8.011    8.739  133.8    4.8   291   29.9 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   17 13 06.2   -39 34 01     8.001    8.739  134.8    4.7   292   29.9 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   17 12 44.8   -39 34 18     7.990    8.739  135.7    4.6   293   29.9 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   17 12 22.8   -39 34 33     7.980    8.740  136.7    4.5   293   29.9 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   17 12 00.4   -39 34 46     7.970    8.740  137.6    4.5   294   29.9 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   17 11 37.5   -39 34 57     7.960    8.741  138.6    4.4   295   29.9 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   17 11 14.2   -39 35 05     7.950    8.741  139.5    4.3   295   29.9 

    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.