C/2020 W5 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 30 Nov 2020 | 22.3 | 3.371 AU | 2.518 AU | 04h55m | +56°43' | 144.7° | 9.7° | 191° |
Nearest approach | 1 Dec 2020 | 22.3 | 3.371 AU | 2.518 AU | 04h53m | +56°58' | 144.7° | 9.7° | 188° |
Today | 10 Jul 2025 | 31.6 | 13.038 AU | 12.379 AU | 16h59m | +16°27' | 128.6° | 3.5° | 138° |
C/2020 W5 (Lemmon)- 2025-07-10
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 W5 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 1.0021680
q (Perihelion distance) : 3.3709290
i (Inclination) : 88.61530
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 75.46730
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 24.60740
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 76.10139
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 24.59974
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459184.43640
Epoch : 2025 Jul 09
Reference : MPEC 2021-BE3
Classification(s): : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)
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. (15.00 + 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
2025-07-10 00:00 UT 16 59 07.4 +16 28 15 12.377 13.037 128.7 3.5 138 31.6
2025-07-10 04:41 UT 16 59 04.2 +16 27 48 12.379 13.038 128.6 3.5 138 31.6
2025-07-11 00:00 UT 16 58 51.0 +16 25 58 12.390 13.043 128.1 3.5 137 31.6
2025-07-12 00:00 UT 16 58 34.7 +16 23 39 12.404 13.048 127.5 3.5 136 31.6
2025-07-13 00:00 UT 16 58 18.7 +16 21 17 12.418 13.054 126.9 3.6 135 31.6
2025-07-14 00:00 UT 16 58 02.9 +16 18 53 12.432 13.060 126.3 3.6 134 31.6
2025-07-15 00:00 UT 16 57 47.3 +16 16 26 12.447 13.066 125.7 3.6 133 31.6
2025-07-16 00:00 UT 16 57 32.0 +16 13 57 12.461 13.072 125.0 3.7 132 31.6
2025-07-17 00:00 UT 16 57 16.9 +16 11 26 12.476 13.077 124.4 3.7 131 31.6
2025-07-18 00:00 UT 16 57 02.1 +16 08 52 12.491 13.083 123.8 3.7 130 31.7
2025-07-19 00:00 UT 16 56 47.5 +16 06 16 12.506 13.089 123.1 3.7 129 31.7
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 16 56 33.2 +16 03 38 12.521 13.095 122.4 3.8 128 31.7
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.