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Two Stunning Comets to Illuminate Night Sky This Month

10/22/2025

41 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) are visible now, with closest approaches on October 21, 2025.
Comet Lemmon is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye under dark skies near the Big Dipper and Arcturus.
Comet SWAN is dimmer and best viewed with binoculars near Altair.
They remain visible until early November, with optimal viewing this week before moonlight rises.

History

Historical Context

Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered independently by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp on July 23, 1995, became a celestial sensation in 1997. Visible to the naked eye for 18 months, it reached its peak brightness of magnitude -1.8 on April 1, 1997. The Internet fueled public interest, with 69% of Americans reportedly observing it, marking it as one of the most widely seen comets in history.

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Story summary

Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) are visible now, with closest approaches on October 21, 2025.
Comet Lemmon is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye under dark skies near the Big Dipper and Arcturus.
Comet SWAN is dimmer and best viewed with binoculars near Altair.
They remain visible until early November, with optimal viewing this week before moonlight rises.

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