C/2018 R5 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	28 Sep 2018	19.5	3.738 AU	2.837 AU	22h49m	+23°04'	149.9°	7.7°	132°
Perihelion	10 Jan 2019	20.2	3.637 AU	4.194 AU	22h43m	-06°32'	49.8°	11.9°	67°
Today	6 Nov 2025	29.3	15.278 AU	15.827 AU	11h03m	-44°57'	54.8°	3.0°	257°

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. (11.5 + 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/2018 R5 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.8417060
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.6368920
    i (Inclination)                 : 103.66470
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 171.29230
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 178.26750
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 171.70170
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 1.68345
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2458494.32800
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 110.13

    Epoch                           : 2025 Nov 06
    Reference                       : MPC114603

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

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2025-11-05 00:00 UT   11 02 56.2   -44 53 12    15.832   15.270   54.0    3.0   255   29.3 
2025-11-06 00:00 UT   11 03 06.6   -44 55 34    15.829   15.274   54.4    3.0   256   29.3 
2025-11-06 21:06 UT   11 03 15.6   -44 57 40    15.827   15.278   54.8    3.0   257   29.3 
2025-11-07 00:00 UT   11 03 16.8   -44 57 57    15.826   15.278   54.9    3.0   257   29.3 
2025-11-08 00:00 UT   11 03 26.7   -45 00 21    15.824   15.283   55.4    3.1   258   29.3 
2025-11-09 00:00 UT   11 03 36.3   -45 02 46    15.821   15.287   55.8    3.1   259   29.3 
2025-11-10 00:00 UT   11 03 45.6   -45 05 11    15.817   15.291   56.3    3.1   260   29.3 
2025-11-11 00:00 UT   11 03 54.6   -45 07 36    15.814   15.295   56.8    3.1   261   29.3 
2025-11-12 00:00 UT   11 04 03.4   -45 10 02    15.811   15.299   57.3    3.1   262   29.3 
2025-11-13 00:00 UT   11 04 11.8   -45 12 29    15.807   15.303   57.8    3.1   263   29.3 
2025-11-14 00:00 UT   11 04 20.0   -45 14 56    15.803   15.308   58.3    3.2   264   29.3 
2025-11-15 00:00 UT   11 04 27.8   -45 17 24    15.799   15.312   58.9    3.2   265   29.3 
2025-11-16 00:00 UT   11 04 35.4   -45 19 52    15.795   15.316   59.4    3.2   266   29.3 

    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.