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	27 Jul 2026	26.2	15.173 AU	14.842 AU	15h22m	-12°31'	107.2°	3.7°	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)                : 1.0024750
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.9961570
    i (Inclination)                 : 155.70110
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 42.48170
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 56.21550
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 348.76340
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 19.99935
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459053.15880

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 26
    Reference                       : MPC194163

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-07-26 00:00 UT   15 22 50.4   -12 31 31    14.806   15.164  108.8    3.6   107   26.2 
2026-07-27 00:00 UT   15 22 42.2   -12 31 44    14.827   15.169  107.8    3.7   107   26.2 
2026-07-27 16:08 UT   15 22 36.7   -12 31 53    14.842   15.173  107.2    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-07-28 00:00 UT   15 22 34.1   -12 31 58    14.849   15.174  106.8    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-07-29 00:00 UT   15 22 26.4   -12 32 13    14.870   15.180  105.9    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-07-30 00:00 UT   15 22 18.9   -12 32 28    14.892   15.185  104.9    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-07-31 00:00 UT   15 22 11.7   -12 32 45    14.914   15.190  103.9    3.7   106   26.2 
2026-08-01 00:00 UT   15 22 04.8   -12 33 03    14.935   15.195  102.9    3.7   106   26.2 
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 
2026-08-04 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 

    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.