C/2020 H7 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	26 May 2020	20.3	4.420 AU	3.750 AU	16h53m	+32°09'	125.8°	10.7°	192°
Perihelion	2 Jun 2020	20.3	4.420 AU	3.762 AU	16h37m	+32°52'	124.8°	10.9°	178°
Today	20 Apr 2024	26.6	11.112 AU	10.813 AU	09h06m	+13°08'	104.8°	5.0°	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.)

The orbital elements of C/2020 H7 (Lemmon) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9968540
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.4195450
            i (Inclination)                 : 135.92350
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 323.51940
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 82.67800
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 243.65995
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 43.62582
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459003.45090
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 52653.62

            Epoch                           : 
            Reference                       : MPEC 2020-KB7

            Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)
        

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. (11.00 + 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
2024-04-20 00:00 UT   09 06 43.7   +13 08 28    10.806   11.110  105.1    5.0   106   26.6 
2024-04-20 08:08 UT   09 06 40.2   +13 08 28    10.813   11.112  104.8    5.0   106   26.6 
2024-04-21 00:00 UT   09 06 33.6   +13 08 28    10.828   11.116  104.1    5.0   106   26.6 
2024-04-22 00:00 UT   09 06 23.9   +13 08 27    10.851   11.122  103.1    5.1   106   26.6 
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   09 06 14.6   +13 08 24    10.873   11.127  102.1    5.1   106   26.6 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   09 06 05.7   +13 08 20    10.896   11.133  101.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   09 05 57.2   +13 08 14    10.918   11.139  100.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   09 05 49.1   +13 08 07    10.941   11.144   99.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   09 05 41.3   +13 07 58    10.964   11.150   98.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   09 05 34.0   +13 07 48    10.987   11.155   97.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   09 05 27.0   +13 07 36    11.009   11.161   96.1    5.1   106   26.7 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   09 05 20.4   +13 07 23    11.032   11.167   95.1    5.2   106   26.7 

    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.