C/2019 Q1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion22 Jul 202018.75.002 AU4.448 AU23h20m+20°27'117.7°10.4°232°
Nearest approach3 Sep 202018.65.013 AU4.090 AU22h19m+17°54'153.5°5.1°163°
Today17 Sep 202525.513.547 AU14.000 AU15h41m-12°05'61.4°3.7°99°
C/2019 Q1 (Lemmon)- 2025-09-17
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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/2019 Q1 (Lemmon) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0024750
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.0018950
            i (Inclination)                 : 155.71840
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.46950
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 56.25250
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : -11.29072
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.99440
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459052.83040

            Epoch                           : 2025 Sep 16
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-EF7

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
        

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. (8.50 + 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
2025-09-17 00:00 UT   15 41 04.1   -12 04 54    13.985   13.543   62.1    3.8    99   25.5 
2025-09-17 17:45 UT   15 41 07.2   -12 05 44    14.000   13.547   61.4    3.7    99   25.5 
2025-09-18 00:00 UT   15 41 08.3   -12 06 01    14.005   13.548   61.1    3.7    99   25.6 
2025-09-19 00:00 UT   15 41 12.7   -12 07 09    14.025   13.554   60.2    3.7    99   25.6 
2025-09-20 00:00 UT   15 41 17.4   -12 08 17    14.045   13.559   59.2    3.6    99   25.6 
2025-09-21 00:00 UT   15 41 22.3   -12 09 25    14.065   13.564   58.3    3.6    99   25.6 
2025-09-22 00:00 UT   15 41 27.5   -12 10 34    14.084   13.569   57.3    3.6    98   25.6 
2025-09-23 00:00 UT   15 41 32.9   -12 11 43    14.104   13.575   56.4    3.5    98   25.6 
2025-09-24 00:00 UT   15 41 38.5   -12 12 53    14.123   13.580   55.5    3.5    98   25.6 
2025-09-25 00:00 UT   15 41 44.4   -12 14 02    14.142   13.585   54.5    3.4    98   25.6 
2025-09-26 00:00 UT   15 41 50.4   -12 15 12    14.162   13.590   53.6    3.4    98   25.6 
2025-09-27 00:00 UT   15 41 56.7   -12 16 23    14.180   13.596   52.6    3.4    98   25.6 

































































    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.