C/2024 B2 (Lemmon)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	5 Oct 2023	20.9	4.080 AU	4.458 AU	11h06m	+53°53'	61.7°	12.5°	333°
Nearest approach	21 Jan 2024	20.4	4.182 AU	3.378 AU	09h11m	+58°20'	140.1°	8.7°	203°
Today	8 Aug 2026	25.9	8.956 AU	9.608 AU	06h58m	-18°27'	47.6°	4.8°	225°

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/2024 B2 (Lemmon) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9964330
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 4.0798210
    i (Inclination)                 : 99.87380
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 294.38870
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 130.32260
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 305.81092
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 48.68750
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460222.67330
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 38681.83

    Epoch                           : 2026 Aug 07
    Reference                       : MPC194188

    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
2026-08-07 00:00 UT   06 58 26.2   -18 21 36     9.609    8.949   47.0    4.8   224   25.9 
2026-08-08 00:00 UT   06 58 44.7   -18 26 04     9.608    8.955   47.5    4.8   225   25.9 
2026-08-08 05:16 UT   06 58 48.8   -18 27 03     9.608    8.956   47.6    4.8   225   25.9 
2026-08-09 00:00 UT   06 59 03.0   -18 30 35     9.608    8.961   47.9    4.8   226   25.9 
2026-08-10 00:00 UT   06 59 21.1   -18 35 09     9.608    8.967   48.4    4.8   227   25.9 
2026-08-11 00:00 UT   06 59 38.9   -18 39 46     9.607    8.973   48.8    4.9   228   25.9 
2026-08-12 00:00 UT   06 59 56.5   -18 44 27     9.606    8.979   49.3    4.9   229   25.9 
2026-08-13 00:00 UT   07 00 13.9   -18 49 10     9.605    8.985   49.8    4.9   230   25.9 
2026-08-14 00:00 UT   07 00 31.1   -18 53 57     9.604    8.991   50.3    5.0   231   26.0 
2026-08-15 00:00 UT   07 00 48.0   -18 58 46     9.602    8.997   50.8    5.0   232   26.0 
2026-08-16 00:00 UT   07 01 04.7   -19 03 38     9.601    9.003   51.3    5.0   233   26.0 
2026-08-17 00:00 UT   07 01 21.1   -19 08 34     9.599    9.009   51.8    5.1   234   26.0 
2026-08-18 00:00 UT   07 01 37.3   -19 13 32     9.598    9.015   52.3    5.1   235   26.0 

    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.