Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as C/2023 A3, is pictured October 2024 as it appeared in the skies over Melbourne, Fla. This week, comets called Lemmon and Swan will be able to be seen fairly easily. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
A rare encounter of two comets this week will have stargazers in awe after nearly a year of no easily seen comets.
Two comets C/2025 A4, nicknamed “Lemmon” and its counterpart C/2025 R2 called “Swan,” will reach its closest point to Earth after astronomers discovered the pair this year.
On Monday, the more dim comet Swan will fly near the planet before Lemmon’s expected arrival on Tuesday. Their fly-bys are being live-streamed for spectators.
“So far, living in the Northern hemisphere, I could admire C/2025 A6 Lemmon only, but C/2025 R2 Swan is quickly joining the show and we are ready to amaze every astronomy lover with our live feed!” Astronomer Gianluca Masi told Space.com.
It’s peak bright spot will be from Monday until Tuesday.
Lemmon, discovered this year in January, will pass roughly 56 million miles from Earth, but Swan will soar closer at about 24 million miles away. It, too, was discovered just last month.
Comet Swan, which orbits the sun every 20,000 years, will be best viewed in predawn skies as it moves away from the sun, according to experts.
However, experts added the best time to view both comets any night this week would be roughly an hour and a half after sunset.
