Watch Out for this Newly Discovered Glowing Comet in October

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Watch Out for this Newly Discovered Glowing Comet in October
The new comet, called C/2025 R2 (SWAN), was first observed in September
Jillian Frankel
People
Thu, October 2, 2025 at 11:12 AM EDT
2 min read



Cielaustral Team  The new comet named C/2025 R2 (SWAN).


NEED TO KNOW

*A new comet discovered in mid-September may soon be be visible this fall

*Vladimir Bezugly first observed the new comet, called C/2025 R2 (SWAN) or SWAN25B, on Thursday, Sept. 11, NASA said

*"The comet was surprisingly bright but understandably difficult to see against the Sun's glare," NASA said, noting the "greenish" hue of the new comet, which is complete with a tail


A new comet discovered this month, glowing green across the night sky, may soon be visible this fall for stargazers who know where to look.

Vladimir Bezugly first observed the new comet, called C/2025 R2 (SWAN) or SWAN25B on Thursday, Sept. 11, in images snapped from a camera on a Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft used to research the sun, according to NASA.

"The comet was surprisingly bright but understandably difficult to see against the Sun's glare," NASA said, noting the "greenish" hue of the new comet, which is complete with a tail.

There will be two upcoming opportunities for optimal viewing of the newly discovered comet: once in early October and again toward the end of the month, EarthSky and NASA noted.

"Near the western horizon after sunset and slightly easier to see in binoculars from the southern hemisphere, this comet SWAN will pass near Zubenelgenubi, alpha star of Libra, on October 2," NASA said.

The agency shared, "C/2025 R2 (SWAN) is scheduled to make its closest approach to our fair planet around October 20."

Max Gilbraith, the University of Wyoming's planetarium coordinator, told Cowboy State Daily there may be few other visible comets besides the SWAN "until Halley’s Comet comes back in 2061."

“It’s the third time we've ever discovered something coming from outside of the solar system,” he said to the outlet.

“We’ve found a string of objects that suggest we’re passing through an interstellar debris field or passed through one 200 years ago," he continued. "If you ran the odds, the SWAN Comet might be once in a lifetime, but we've seen three of these comets in eight years.”

EarthSky called the comet a "true once-in-a-lifetime visitor," noting this particular one "takes more than 22,000 years to orbit the sun."

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