C/2021 T1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	5 Oct 2021	19.1	3.061 AU	2.239 AU	23h40m	+43°48'	138.5°	12.5°	155°
Perihelion	15 Oct 2021	19.1	3.059 AU	2.266 AU	23h04m	+41°04'	135.7°	13.2°	128°
Today	26 Jan 2026	29.0	12.474 AU	12.940 AU	16h22m	-16°44'	59.8°	3.9°	282°

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)                : 0.9990430
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.0594940
    i (Inclination)                 : 140.34420
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 56.85020
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 51.58000
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 12.70301
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 29.99963
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459502.57040
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 180761.74

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 12
    Reference                       : MPEC 2022-OB6

    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
2026-01-25 00:00 UT   16 22 47.1   -16 43 58    12.956   12.464   58.1    3.8   282   29.0 
2026-01-26 00:00 UT   16 22 53.7   -16 44 28    12.947   12.470   59.1    3.9   282   29.0 
2026-01-26 17:32 UT   16 22 58.4   -16 44 50    12.940   12.474   59.8    3.9   282   29.0 
2026-01-27 00:00 UT   16 23 00.1   -16 44 58    12.938   12.476   60.0    3.9   282   29.0 
2026-01-28 00:00 UT   16 23 06.1   -16 45 26    12.928   12.482   61.0    4.0   282   29.0 
2026-01-29 00:00 UT   16 23 11.9   -16 45 54    12.919   12.488   62.0    4.0   282   29.0 
2026-01-30 00:00 UT   16 23 17.4   -16 46 21    12.909   12.494   63.0    4.0   282   29.0 
2026-01-31 00:00 UT   16 23 22.5   -16 46 47    12.900   12.500   64.0    4.1   282   29.0 
2026-02-01 00:00 UT   16 23 27.4   -16 47 12    12.890   12.506   65.0    4.1   282   29.0 
2026-02-02 00:00 UT   16 23 32.1   -16 47 36    12.880   12.511   66.0    4.1   281   29.0 
2026-02-03 00:00 UT   16 23 36.4   -16 47 60    12.870   12.517   67.0    4.2   281   29.0 
2026-02-04 00:00 UT   16 23 40.4   -16 48 22    12.860   12.523   68.0    4.2   281   29.0 
2026-02-05 00:00 UT   16 23 44.1   -16 48 44    12.849   12.529   69.0    4.2   281   29.0 

    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.