C/2023 V1 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	13 Jul 2025	19.1	5.093 AU	5.011 AU	16h05m	+59°17'	88.8°	11.5°	134°
Today	2 Mar 2026	19.3	5.389 AU	5.020 AU	15h49m	+34°48'	106.7°	10.1°	267°
Nearest approach	12 Apr 2026	19.3	5.497 AU	4.829 AU	15h09m	+37°29'	127.5°	8.3°	214°

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. (8.5 + 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/2023 V1 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0004100
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 5.0926210
    i (Inclination)                 : 102.00950
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 15.05140
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 103.32030
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 56.36117
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 72.13822
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460869.56870

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 01
    Reference                       : MPC188411

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-01 00:00 UT   15 50 47.3   +34 42 07     5.030    5.386  105.8   10.2   269   19.3 
2026-03-02 00:00 UT   15 50 10.6   +34 47 25     5.022    5.388  106.5   10.2   268   19.3 
2026-03-02 06:55 UT   15 49 59.8   +34 48 57     5.020    5.389  106.7   10.1   267   19.3 
2026-03-03 00:00 UT   15 49 32.7   +34 52 44     5.014    5.391  107.2   10.1   267   19.3 
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   15 48 53.7   +34 58 02     5.006    5.393  107.9   10.1   266   19.3 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   15 48 13.5   +35 03 20     4.998    5.395  108.5   10.0   265   19.3 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   15 47 32.1   +35 08 36     4.990    5.398  109.2   10.0   264   19.3 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   15 46 49.6   +35 13 52     4.982    5.400  109.8   10.0   263   19.3 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   15 46 05.9   +35 19 06     4.975    5.403  110.5    9.9   261   19.3 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   15 45 21.0   +35 24 18     4.967    5.405  111.2    9.9   260   19.3 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   15 44 35.0   +35 29 28     4.960    5.408  111.8    9.8   259   19.3 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   15 43 47.8   +35 34 36     4.953    5.411  112.4    9.8   258   19.3 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   15 42 59.5   +35 39 41     4.946    5.413  113.1    9.7   257   19.3 

    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.