C/2020 S8 (Lemmon) |
ephemeris |
date |
magn |
radius |
delta |
ra |
dec |
elong |
phase |
PA |
Perihelion | 10 Apr 2021 | 15.7 | 2.356 AU | 1.468 AU | 15h04m | +15°11' | 144.4° | 14.3° | 231° |
Nearest approach | 23 Apr 2021 | 15.7 | 2.360 AU | 1.411 AU | 14h10m | +12°37' | 154.8° | 10.4° | 185° |
Today | 20 Jul 2025 | 27.8 | 12.769 AU | 13.087 AU | 05h16m | -37°40' | 69.6° | 4.3° | 220° |
C/2020 S8 (Lemmon)- 2025-07-20
astro.vanbuitenen.nl
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/2020 S8 (Lemmon) are:
e (Eccentricity) : 0.9901380
q (Perihelion distance) : 2.3555790
i (Inclination) : 108.54420
Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 24.00620
ω (Argument of perihelion) : 160.12700
L (Longitude of perihelion) : 30.56402
B (Latitude of perihelion) : 18.80126
T (Time of perihelion passage) : 2459314.84820
P (Orbital period in years) : 3691.47
Epoch : 2025 Jul 19
Reference : MPEC 2021-P47
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 (12.50 + 5 log[∆] + 10.00 log[r]), whereas the red curve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 11.19 + 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.
The following chart shows the current location of the comet in a smaller, upside-down telescopic field of view.
A printable version of the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.
Ephemerides:
Date Time RA (2000) DEC (2000) delta radius elong phase PA magn
2025-07-20 00:00 UT 05 16 46.9 -37 39 42 13.087 12.767 69.5 4.3 220 27.8
2025-07-20 07:37 UT 05 16 51.4 -37 40 19 13.087 12.769 69.6 4.3 220 27.8
2025-07-21 00:00 UT 05 17 00.9 -37 41 39 13.087 12.773 69.8 4.3 221 27.8
2025-07-22 00:00 UT 05 17 14.7 -37 43 40 13.087 12.779 70.2 4.3 222 27.8
2025-07-23 00:00 UT 05 17 28.2 -37 45 43 13.087 12.785 70.5 4.3 223 27.8
2025-07-24 00:00 UT 05 17 41.5 -37 47 50 13.087 12.791 70.9 4.3 224 27.8
2025-07-25 00:00 UT 05 17 54.6 -37 49 59 13.087 12.797 71.3 4.3 224 27.8
2025-07-26 00:00 UT 05 18 07.4 -37 52 12 13.086 12.803 71.6 4.3 225 27.8
2025-07-27 00:00 UT 05 18 20.0 -37 54 27 13.086 12.809 72.0 4.3 226 27.8
2025-07-28 00:00 UT 05 18 32.3 -37 56 46 13.085 12.815 72.4 4.3 227 27.9
2025-07-29 00:00 UT 05 18 44.4 -37 59 07 13.085 12.821 72.8 4.3 228 27.9
2025-07-30 00:00 UT 05 18 56.2 -38 01 31 13.084 12.827 73.2 4.3 229 27.9
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.