C/2022 A3 (Lemmon-ATLAS)
ephemeris date magn radius delta ra dec elong phase PA
Nearest approach23 Feb 202317.04.170 AU3.243 AU09h15m-05°31'156.7°5.4°49°
Perihelion28 Sep 202317.03.704 AU4.257 AU09h29m-33°41'50.7°12.1°241°
Today15 Sep 202418.34.810 AU4.585 AU04h11m-78°09'96.9°12.0°290°
C/2022 A3 (Lemmon-ATLAS)- 2024-09-15
astro.vanbuitenen.nl


 
-1 month
-1 week
-1 day
Now
+1 day
+1 week
+1 month

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.)

The orbital elements of C/2022 A3 (Lemmon-ATLAS) are:

            e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9956790
            q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.7038110
            i (Inclination)                 : 88.34210
            Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 325.46880
            ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 234.85670
            L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 327.82231
            B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -54.82264
            T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460216.38840
            P (Orbital period in years)     : 25095.56

            Epoch                           : 2024 Sep 14
            Reference                       : MPEC 2024-R10

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

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations respectively from COBS or the MPC. The gray curve is based on the absolute magnitude and slope parameter as calculated from the original MPEC, or the latest values provided by the MPC (8.00 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 8.20 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]).


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.
A more printer-friendly version of the same chart can be found further down this page as well.