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	17 Aug 2026	28.8	13.384 AU	12.665 AU	00h51m	-04°40'	133.6°	3.1°	256°

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
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   00 51 38.9   -04 37 29    12.676   13.375  132.0    3.2   255   28.8 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   00 51 24.1   -04 39 26    12.669   13.381  133.1    3.2   256   28.8 
2026-08-17 14:10 UT   00 51 15.3   -04 40 35    12.665   13.384  133.6    3.1   256   28.8 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   00 51 09.1   -04 41 24    12.663   13.387  134.1    3.1   256   28.8 
2026-08-19 00:00 UT   00 50 53.8   -04 43 22    12.657   13.393  135.1    3.1   256   28.8 
2026-08-20 00:00 UT   00 50 38.3   -04 45 22    12.651   13.398  136.1    3.0   257   28.8 
2026-08-21 00:00 UT   00 50 22.5   -04 47 22    12.645   13.404  137.1    2.9   257   28.8 
2026-08-22 00:00 UT   00 50 06.6   -04 49 23    12.640   13.410  138.1    2.9   257   28.8 
2026-08-23 00:00 UT   00 49 50.4   -04 51 25    12.635   13.416  139.1    2.8   258   28.8 
2026-08-24 00:00 UT   00 49 34.0   -04 53 27    12.630   13.421  140.1    2.8   258   28.8 
2026-08-25 00:00 UT   00 49 17.4   -04 55 30    12.625   13.427  141.1    2.7   259   28.8 
2026-08-26 00:00 UT   00 49 00.6   -04 57 34    12.621   13.433  142.1    2.6   259   28.8 
2026-08-27 00:00 UT   00 48 43.6   -04 59 39    12.616   13.439  143.1    2.6   260   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.