C/2021 T1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Oct 2021	19.1	3.059 AU	2.237 AU	23h40m	+43°49'	138.5°	12.5°	155°
Perihelion	15 Oct 2021	19.1	3.057 AU	2.265 AU	23h03m	+41°01'	135.5°	13.2°	127°
Today	8 Aug 2026	29.5	13.612 AU	13.378 AU	15h39m	-16°14'	101.2°	4.2°	104°

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. (12.5 + 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 T1 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9990170
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0574850
    i (Inclination)                 : 140.32670
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.83250
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 51.58460
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 12.68784
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 30.01393
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459502.82140
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 173466.74

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 29
    Reference                       : MPC194177

    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
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   15 39 46.6   -16 13 43    13.353   13.605  102.3    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   15 39 40.4   -16 14 08    13.375   13.611  101.3    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-08 02:29 UT   15 39 39.7   -16 14 11    13.378   13.612  101.2    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   15 39 34.4   -16 14 35    13.398   13.617  100.3    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   15 39 28.8   -16 15 02    13.421   13.623   99.4    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   15 39 23.5   -16 15 30    13.443   13.628   98.4    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   15 39 18.5   -16 15 60    13.466   13.634   97.4    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   15 39 13.8   -16 16 30    13.489   13.640   96.4    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   15 39 09.4   -16 17 01    13.512   13.646   95.5    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   15 39 05.4   -16 17 33    13.535   13.652   94.5    4.2   104   29.5 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   15 39 01.6   -16 18 06    13.558   13.657   93.5    4.2   103   29.5 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   15 38 58.2   -16 18 39    13.580   13.663   92.5    4.2   103   29.5 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   15 38 55.0   -16 19 14    13.603   13.669   91.6    4.2   103   29.5 

    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.