Two dazzling comets — Lemmon and SWAN — are putting on a rare cosmic show this month as they make their closest passes to Earth.
Spotted only months apart, these icy travelers are glowing green in the night sky and will soon reach their brightest moments.
☄️ Meet the Visitors
Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) was first seen in January by the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona.
Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) was discovered just last month by a NASA–ESA spacecraft studying the sun.
Both are long-period comets — meaning they take hundreds (even thousands) of years to orbit the sun. SWAN won’t return for about 700 years, while Lemmon won’t swing by again for 1,300 years.
🌍 When & Where to Look
Comet SWAN gets closest on October 20, coming within 24 million miles of Earth.
Comet Lemmon follows right after on October 21, about 55 million miles away.
🔭 Best viewing times:
SWAN — just after sunset (early evening sky)
Lemmon — before sunrise right now, shifting to evenings soon
🌌 How to Spot Them
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, Lemmon’s your best bet. Southern Hemisphere watchers can catch both.
To see them clearly:
Find a dark spot away from city lights
Grab binoculars or a small telescope
Use sky apps like Stellarium, Sky Tonight, or KStars to track their exact spot
Or just join The Virtual Telescope Project livestream from Italy if clouds get in your way
Pro tip: Try your phone’s night mode or long-exposure setting — you might just snap your own comet photo!