C/2020 F7 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	15 Feb 2021	18.0	5.702 AU	4.783 AU	08h58m	-06°13'	156.5°	4.0°	36°
Perihelion	14 Nov 2021	17.9	5.338 AU	5.375 AU	09h05m	-33°38'	82.5°	10.6°	287°
Today	24 Jul 2026	23.3	12.518 AU	11.756 AU	23h01m	-45°17'	137.0°	3.2°	292°

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. (7.0 + 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/2020 F7 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9913320
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.3377140
    i (Inclination)                 : 94.00010
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 321.80800
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 228.03170
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 317.37298
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -47.87674
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459532.98560
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 15281.10

    Epoch                           : 2026 Jul 23
    Reference                       : MPC194166

    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
2026-07-23 00:00 UT   23 02 18.3   -45 15 21    11.757   12.512  136.4    3.2   290   23.3 
2026-07-24 00:00 UT   23 01 54.9   -45 17 28    11.756   12.517  136.9    3.2   292   23.3 
2026-07-24 02:47 UT   23 01 52.2   -45 17 42    11.756   12.518  137.0    3.2   292   23.3 
2026-07-25 00:00 UT   23 01 31.1   -45 19 33    11.755   12.522  137.5    3.1   293   23.3 
2026-07-26 00:00 UT   23 01 07.0   -45 21 37    11.754   12.528  138.0    3.1   294   23.3 
2026-07-27 00:00 UT   23 00 42.6   -45 23 39    11.754   12.533  138.5    3.1   296   23.3 
2026-07-28 00:00 UT   23 00 17.9   -45 25 39    11.753   12.538  139.0    3.0   297   23.3 
2026-07-29 00:00 UT   22 59 52.9   -45 27 37    11.753   12.543  139.5    3.0   299   23.3 
2026-07-30 00:00 UT   22 59 27.5   -45 29 34    11.754   12.548  140.0    3.0   300   23.3 
2026-07-31 00:00 UT   22 59 01.9   -45 31 28    11.754   12.553  140.4    3.0   302   23.3 
2026-08-01 00:00 UT   22 58 36.0   -45 33 21    11.755   12.559  140.8    2.9   303   23.3 
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   22 58 09.8   -45 35 11    11.756   12.564  141.2    2.9   305   23.3 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   22 57 43.4   -45 36 60    11.757   12.569  141.6    2.9   306   23.3 

    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.