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' | 144.7° | 14.2° | 231° |
Nearest approach | 23 Apr 2021 | 15.7 | 2.362 AU | 1.414 AU | 14h10m | +12°37' | 154.8° | 10.4° | 185° |
Today | 9 May 2024 | 26.3 | 10.004 AU | 10.379 AU | 05h19m | -40°16' | 65.5° | 5.3° | 145° |
C/2020 S8 (Lemmon)- 2024-05-09
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) : 0.9905690
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.3583210
i (Inclination) : 108.52930
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 24.05800
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 160.20310
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 30.58381
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 18.73127
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459315.16980
P (Orbital period in years) : 3954.28
Epoch : 2024 May 08
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
2024-05-09 00:00 UT 05 19 24.1 -40 17 46 10.374 10.000 65.6 5.3 144 26.3
2024-05-09 11:39 UT 05 19 33.7 -40 16 09 10.379 10.004 65.5 5.3 145 26.3
2024-05-10 00:00 UT 05 19 44.0 -40 14 28 10.384 10.007 65.4 5.3 145 26.3
2024-05-11 00:00 UT 05 20 04.1 -40 11 14 10.394 10.014 65.2 5.3 146 26.3
2024-05-12 00:00 UT 05 20 24.4 -40 08 05 10.404 10.020 65.1 5.2 147 26.3
2024-05-13 00:00 UT 05 20 44.8 -40 05 01 10.414 10.027 64.9 5.2 148 26.3
2024-05-14 00:00 UT 05 21 05.5 -40 02 01 10.424 10.034 64.7 5.2 149 26.3
2024-05-15 00:00 UT 05 21 26.3 -39 59 05 10.433 10.040 64.5 5.2 150 26.3
2024-05-16 00:00 UT 05 21 47.2 -39 56 14 10.443 10.047 64.4 5.2 151 26.3
2024-05-17 00:00 UT 05 22 08.3 -39 53 28 10.452 10.054 64.2 5.2 152 26.3
2024-05-18 00:00 UT 05 22 29.5 -39 50 46 10.461 10.060 64.0 5.2 153 26.3
2024-05-19 00:00 UT 05 22 50.9 -39 48 09 10.471 10.067 63.9 5.2 154 26.3
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.