C/2021 C6 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	11 Nov 2021	19.8	3.292 AU	3.274 AU	09h46m	+06°47'	82.4°	17.3°	289°
Nearest approach	12 Jan 2022	19.1	3.344 AU	2.382 AU	07h44m	+07°44'	165.8°	4.1°	350°
Today	22 Jun 2026	28.8	13.060 AU	13.218 AU	00h58m	-03°27'	78.8°	4.4°	245°

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.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. 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. (12.0 + 5 log[∆] + 10.0 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

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.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2021 C6 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9988350
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.2923450
    i (Inclination)                 : 164.61010
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 332.32290
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 203.94260
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 309.14680
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -6.18271
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459529.88860
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 150234.31

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194173

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-06-21 00:00 UT   00 58 11.3   -03 26 59    13.234   13.051   77.4    4.4   245   28.8 
2026-06-22 00:00 UT   00 58 12.0   -03 27 26    13.224   13.057   78.4    4.4   245   28.8 
2026-06-22 12:12 UT   00 58 12.2   -03 27 41    13.218   13.060   78.8    4.4   245   28.8 
2026-06-23 00:00 UT   00 58 12.4   -03 27 56    13.213   13.063   79.3    4.4   245   28.8 
2026-06-24 00:00 UT   00 58 12.5   -03 28 27    13.202   13.068   80.2    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-25 00:00 UT   00 58 12.4   -03 29 01    13.191   13.074   81.2    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-26 00:00 UT   00 58 12.0   -03 29 36    13.180   13.080   82.1    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-27 00:00 UT   00 58 11.4   -03 30 13    13.169   13.086   83.1    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-28 00:00 UT   00 58 10.4   -03 30 51    13.158   13.092   84.0    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-29 00:00 UT   00 58 09.2   -03 31 32    13.147   13.098   85.0    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-06-30 00:00 UT   00 58 07.8   -03 32 15    13.136   13.103   85.9    4.4   246   28.8 
2026-07-01 00:00 UT   00 58 06.0   -03 32 59    13.124   13.109   86.9    4.4   247   28.8 
2026-07-02 00:00 UT   00 58 04.0   -03 33 45    13.113   13.115   87.8    4.4   247   28.8 

    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.