Story perspectives

Two Comets to Dazzle Skies During Orionid Meteor Shower

9/20/2025

Summary

Story summary

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was discovered on September 11, 2025, by Ukrainian astronomer Vladimir Bezugly using the SWAN instrument.
It will approach Earth on October 21, reaching a distance of about 0.27 AU and potentially brightening to magnitude 4, making it visible to the naked eye.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will also be visible around this time, with both comets peaking during the Orionid meteor shower from October 20-23.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere may see SWAN R2 after its closest approach, and Earth may pass through debris from SWAN R2 between October 4-6, possibly creating a new meteor shower.
The comet's trajectory is still being refined, and it may fade from view after November 3, 2025.

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Story summary

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was discovered on September 11, 2025, by Ukrainian astronomer Vladimir Bezugly using the SWAN instrument.
It will approach Earth on October 21, reaching a distance of about 0.27 AU and potentially brightening to magnitude 4, making it visible to the naked eye.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will also be visible around this time, with both comets peaking during the Orionid meteor shower from October 20-23.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere may see SWAN R2 after its closest approach, and Earth may pass through debris from SWAN R2 between October 4-6, possibly creating a new meteor shower.
The comet's trajectory is still being refined, and it may fade from view after November 3, 2025.