C/2020 S8 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 10 Apr 2021 | 15.7 | 2.358 AU | 1.468 AU | 15h03m | +15°09' | 144.6° | 14.2° | 231° |
Nearest approach | 23 Apr 2021 | 15.7 | 2.362 AU | 1.413 AU | 14h10m | +12°38' | 154.8° | 10.4° | 185° |
Today | 26 Jul 2024 | 26.6 | 10.520 AU | 10.829 AU | 05h47m | -39°52' | 69.7° | 5.2° | 220° |
C/2020 S8 (Lemmon)- 2024-07-26
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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 S8 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9904760
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.3576690
i (Inclination) : 108.53080
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 24.05140
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 160.18720
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 30.58335
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 18.74608
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459315.12300
P (Orbital period in years) : 3894.89
Epoch : 2024 Jul 25
Reference : MPEC 2021-P47
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 gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (12.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.18 + 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
2024-07-26 00:00 UT 05 46 55.2 -39 49 54 10.827 10.514 69.4 5.2 219 26.6
2024-07-26 23:34 UT 05 47 11.4 -39 52 22 10.829 10.520 69.7 5.2 220 26.6
2024-07-27 00:00 UT 05 47 11.7 -39 52 24 10.829 10.520 69.7 5.2 220 26.6
2024-07-28 00:00 UT 05 47 27.9 -39 54 59 10.830 10.527 70.0 5.2 221 26.6
2024-07-29 00:00 UT 05 47 43.8 -39 57 36 10.832 10.533 70.3 5.2 222 26.6
2024-07-30 00:00 UT 05 47 59.5 -40 00 18 10.833 10.540 70.6 5.2 223 26.6
2024-07-31 00:00 UT 05 48 14.8 -40 03 03 10.834 10.546 70.9 5.2 224 26.6
2024-08-01 00:00 UT 05 48 29.9 -40 05 52 10.835 10.553 71.2 5.2 224 26.6
2024-08-02 00:00 UT 05 48 44.6 -40 08 44 10.837 10.559 71.5 5.2 225 26.6
2024-08-03 00:00 UT 05 48 59.1 -40 11 40 10.838 10.566 71.9 5.2 226 26.6
2024-08-04 00:00 UT 05 49 13.3 -40 14 39 10.838 10.572 72.2 5.2 227 26.6
2024-08-05 00:00 UT 05 49 27.1 -40 17 42 10.839 10.579 72.5 5.2 228 26.6
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.