C/2022 V2 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	1 Nov 2023	18.1	2.066 AU	2.647 AU	11h53m	+09°57'	44.9°	19.8°	302°
Nearest approach	28 Jan 2024	17.4	2.301 AU	1.568 AU	09h55m	-31°33'	127.2°	19.9°	338°
Today	6 Apr 2026	26.7	8.243 AU	8.663 AU	02h19m	-53°27'	62.1°	6.2°	158°

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. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 12.9 + 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/2022 V2 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9436580
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 2.0656210
    i (Inclination)                 : 98.90870
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 332.83280
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 168.97650
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 334.56076
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.88888
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460250.28080
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 221.99

    Epoch                           : 2026 Apr 05
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    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
2026-04-05 00:00 UT   02 18 20.0   -53 32 34     8.657    8.234   62.0    6.2   156   26.7 
2026-04-06 00:00 UT   02 18 50.4   -53 29 02     8.661    8.241   62.1    6.2   157   26.7 
2026-04-06 07:48 UT   02 19 00.3   -53 27 54     8.663    8.243   62.1    6.2   158   26.7 
2026-04-07 00:00 UT   02 19 21.0   -53 25 35     8.666    8.248   62.2    6.2   158   26.7 
2026-04-08 00:00 UT   02 19 51.7   -53 22 14     8.671    8.254   62.4    6.2   159   26.7 
2026-04-09 00:00 UT   02 20 22.5   -53 18 59     8.675    8.261   62.5    6.2   160   26.7 
2026-04-10 00:00 UT   02 20 53.4   -53 15 49     8.679    8.268   62.7    6.2   161   26.7 
2026-04-11 00:00 UT   02 21 24.5   -53 12 44     8.684    8.275   62.8    6.2   162   26.7 
2026-04-12 00:00 UT   02 21 55.7   -53 09 45     8.688    8.282   63.0    6.2   163   26.7 
2026-04-13 00:00 UT   02 22 27.0   -53 06 52     8.692    8.288   63.2    6.2   164   26.7 
2026-04-14 00:00 UT   02 22 58.4   -53 04 04     8.696    8.295   63.4    6.2   165   26.7 
2026-04-15 00:00 UT   02 23 29.9   -53 01 22     8.700    8.302   63.6    6.2   166   26.7 
2026-04-16 00:00 UT   02 24 01.4   -52 58 46     8.703    8.309   63.8    6.2   167   26.7 

    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.