C/2019 Q1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	22 Jul 2020	18.7	4.996 AU	4.439 AU	23h20m	+20°29'	117.9°	10.4°	232°
Nearest approach	3 Sep 2020	18.6	5.007 AU	4.084 AU	22h19m	+17°56'	153.5°	5.2°	163°
Today	3 Aug 2026	26.2	15.209 AU	14.996 AU	15h21m	-12°33'	100.2°	3.8°	106°

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. (8.5 + 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/2019 Q1 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0024710
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.9960250
    i (Inclination)                 : 155.70070
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.48190
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 56.21450
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 348.76472
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.99942
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459053.16120

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 03
    Reference                       : MPC194163

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   15 21 58.2   -12 33 22    14.957   15.200  101.9    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   15 21 51.8   -12 33 42    14.979   15.205  101.0    3.8   106   26.2 
2026-08-03 18:39 UT   15 21 47.0   -12 33 59    14.996   15.209  100.2    3.8   106   26.2 
2026-08-04 00:00 UT   15 21 45.7   -12 34 03    15.001   15.210  100.0    3.8   106   26.2 
2026-08-05 00:00 UT   15 21 39.8   -12 34 25    15.023   15.215   99.0    3.8   106   26.2 
2026-08-06 00:00 UT   15 21 34.3   -12 34 48    15.045   15.221   98.1    3.8   106   26.2 
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   15 21 29.0   -12 35 12    15.067   15.226   97.1    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   15 21 24.0   -12 35 37    15.089   15.231   96.1    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   15 21 19.2   -12 36 03    15.111   15.236   95.1    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   15 21 14.7   -12 36 30    15.133   15.241   94.2    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   15 21 10.5   -12 36 57    15.156   15.246   93.2    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   15 21 06.6   -12 37 26    15.178   15.251   92.2    3.8   105   26.2 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   15 21 02.9   -12 37 56    15.200   15.256   91.3    3.8   105   26.2 

    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.