Two newly discovered comets will pass the sky this month. Here’s how to see them

Skywatchers, rejoice. This month, not one but two comets are ready to get into our night sky for your viewing pleasure.

The two comets, C / 2025 R2 (Swan) and C / 2025 A6 (Lemmon), were both discovered in 2025. Celestial visitors are preparing for a steel of the near earth in October, becoming more visible when approaching our planet. Swan will be closest to Earth on October 19, while Lemmon is ready for his own narrow approach on October 21. The two frozen comets could even be visible to the naked eye at that time.

Cosmic pair

Astronomers spotted Lemmon in January using the MT. Lemmon Skycenter observatory in the mountains of Santa Catalina in Arizona. The comet accelerated to the inner solar system at speeds of up to 130,000 miles per hour (209,000 kilometers per hour).

Later in September, amateur astronomer Vladimir Bezug discovered the comet Swan in the images of the Satellite Soho Satellite instrument. The comet has become significantly more brilliant by emerging from the direction of the sun.

At his closest approach, Swan will be at a distance of around 24 million miles (39 million kilometers) from our planet, about a quarter of the distance between the sun and the earth. The swan is now on a magnitude of brightness of approximately 5.9, according to Earthsky. The unexpected and brilliant comet is currently in the southern sky, but she moves slowly north, according to NASA.

After the closest approach to Swan, the comet Lemmon will be just behind. The comet will be about half the distance between the sun and the earth before rounding the sun on November 8. From there, he will start his next trip around the star. Lemmon will continue to light up when approaching the sun, but it will probably remain visible, and will become even brighter, between October 31 to November 1, according to Earthsky.

How to see Swan and Lemmon

Swan is better seen in the southern hemisphere. The comet crossed the constellation of the balance on September 28 and will cross Scorpius on October 10. Around October 9 to 10, it will appear near Beta Librae, the most brilliant star of the Balance Constellation, reports Earthsky.

However, it can be a little difficult to spot because its position in the sky will be close to the setting sun. Sky observers hoping to have an overview of Swan need west after sunset.

The conditions are more favorable to Lemmon. The comet is better seen in the northern hemisphere, where it will be positioned near the Grande Dipper for most of October. Sky observers should turn to the eastern sky just before sunrise to locate the comet.

In mid-October, the comet can be easier to view. On October 16, Lemmon will pass near Cor Caroli, a system of binary stars in the northern constellation of the Venatici canes, according to Earthsky. At that time, the comet could be visible to the naked eye.