Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Destination: Alpha Centauri => Topic started by: Buster's Uncle on October 15, 2025, 01:20:57 pm

Title: Two comets may light up October skies. Here’s when to look
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 15, 2025, 01:20:57 pm

Two comets may light up October skies. Here’s when to look
New York Connect Team
Democrat and Chronicle (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/)
Wed, October 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM EDT
1 min read


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Stargazers may be in for a treat this October as two comets — C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) — are expected to be visible in the night sky around Oct. 21.

Seeing more than one comet in a single month is unusual, making this a rare opportunity for skywatchers.


Where and when to look

Both comets are best viewed with binoculars about 45 minutes after sunset, low in the western and southern skies, according to Forbes.


Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN)

Brightness: Estimated magnitude +6.1 — just beyond the limit of the naked eye in dark skies.

Best visibility: May be visible to the unaided eye by Oct. 20, especially in moonless, dark conditions, per the StarWalk app.

Path: Moves through the constellations Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Serpens, Scutum, Sagittarius, Aquila, and Aquarius, according to Space.com.


Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)

Best time to view: Mid-October through November

Brightness: Expected to reach magnitude +5, making it a strong binocular object

Visibility: Evening skies in the Northern Hemisphere; brightness may increase near perihelion (its closest approach to Earth)


More comets on the way

If you miss these two, don’t worry — more comets are on the way. Several are set to pass near Earth in late 2025 and early 2026.

Sources: NASA, StarWalk.space, Forbes, USA TODAY research

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Two comets could be visible in October 2025. Here's when to look (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2025/10/15/comets-october-2025-swan-lemmon-when-to-see/86651163007/)