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C/2021 C6 (Lemmon)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Perihelion11 Nov 202119.83.292 AU3.274 AU 09h46m+06°47'82.4°17.3°289°
Nearest approach12 Jan 202219.13.344 AU2.382 AU 07h44m+07°44'165.8°4.1°350°
Today3 Aug 202628.813.304 AU12.773 AU 00h54m-04°14'119.6°3.8°252°
C/2021 C6 (Lemmon)- 2026-08-03
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
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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
2026-08-02 00:00 UT   00 54 39.3   -04 12 14    12.787   13.295  118.1    3.9   252   28.8 
2026-08-03 00:00 UT   00 54 28.2   -04 13 54    12.778   13.300  119.0    3.8   252   28.8 
2026-08-03 13:42 UT   00 54 21.7   -04 14 51    12.773   13.304  119.6    3.8   252   28.8 
2026-08-04 00:00 UT   00 54 16.7   -04 15 35    12.769   13.306  120.0    3.8   252   28.8 
2026-08-05 00:00 UT   00 54 05.0   -04 17 18    12.760   13.312  121.0    3.7   253   28.8 
2026-08-06 00:00 UT   00 53 53.1   -04 19 02    12.751   13.318  122.0    3.7   253   28.8 
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   00 53 40.8   -04 20 47    12.743   13.323  123.0    3.7   253   28.8 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   00 53 28.3   -04 22 34    12.735   13.329  124.0    3.6   253   28.8 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   00 53 15.6   -04 24 22    12.727   13.335  125.0    3.6   254   28.8 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   00 53 02.5   -04 26 11    12.719   13.341  126.0    3.5   254   28.8 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   00 52 49.2   -04 28 01    12.711   13.346  127.0    3.5   254   28.8 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   00 52 35.7   -04 29 53    12.704   13.352  128.0    3.4   254   28.8 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   00 52 21.8   -04 31 45    12.696   13.358  129.0    3.4   255   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.

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