C/2020 T5 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	14 Jun 2020	20.8	2.370 AU	1.638 AU	16h52m	+31°08'	124.8°	20.6°	169°
Perihelion	8 Oct 2020	20.2	1.894 AU	1.886 AU	17h04m	+44°54'	75.1°	30.6°	65°
Today	23 Apr 2024	32.0	11.436 AU	12.028 AU	05h06m	-13°25'	51.9°	4.0°	118°

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 T5 (Lemmon) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9971960
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.8940960
            i (Inclination)                 : 66.54460
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 237.82860
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 90.36370
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 148.74227
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 66.54194
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459131.25340
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 17556.42

            Epoch                           : 2024 Apr 22
            Reference                       : MPEC 2021-BE3

            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. (16.00 + 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
2024-04-23 00:00 UT   05 06 01.2   -13 26 37    12.020   11.432   52.2    4.0   118   32.0 
2024-04-23 12:51 UT   05 06 10.0   -13 25 47    12.028   11.436   51.9    4.0   118   32.0 
2024-04-24 00:00 UT   05 06 17.7   -13 25 04    12.035   11.439   51.6    4.0   119   32.0 
2024-04-25 00:00 UT   05 06 34.5   -13 23 33    12.051   11.445   51.0    3.9   120   32.0 
2024-04-26 00:00 UT   05 06 51.4   -13 22 03    12.066   11.452   50.4    3.9   120   32.0 
2024-04-27 00:00 UT   05 07 08.5   -13 20 36    12.081   11.458   49.9    3.9   121   32.0 
2024-04-28 00:00 UT   05 07 25.8   -13 19 11    12.095   11.465   49.3    3.8   122   32.0 
2024-04-29 00:00 UT   05 07 43.3   -13 17 48    12.110   11.471   48.7    3.8   123   32.0 
2024-04-30 00:00 UT   05 08 00.9   -13 16 28    12.124   11.478   48.2    3.8   124   32.0 
2024-05-01 00:00 UT   05 08 18.7   -13 15 09    12.139   11.484   47.6    3.7   125   32.0 
2024-05-02 00:00 UT   05 08 36.6   -13 13 53    12.153   11.491   47.1    3.7   126   32.0 
2024-05-03 00:00 UT   05 08 54.8   -13 12 39    12.167   11.497   46.6    3.7   127   32.0 

    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.