Skygazers are in for a rare celestial treat later this month, as two dazzling comets, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), will pass closest to Earth during the same week that the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak.
Skywatchers are set for a remarkable spectacle later this month as two bright comets, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), make their closest approach to Earth in the same week that the Orionid meteor shower peaks. Astronomers say this unusual alignment of cosmic events could create one of the most dazzling night skies in recent years, especially under dark conditions.
Comet SWAN and Comet Lemmon, both discovered within the last year, are expected to brighten around October 21, reaching visibility levels that may allow observers in the Northern Hemisphere to see them with binoculars, or possibly even the naked eye. Their appearance will come just as the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak and under the exceptionally dark skies of a new moon.
Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN), discovered only in September, will first become visible in early October. Observers at mid-northern latitudes will find it in the southwestern sky around dusk, starting in the constellation Libra before moving northeastward into Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Serpens, as per a report by Forbes.
On October 13, SWAN will pass beneath the bright star Sabik in Ophiuchus. Its best visibility is predicted for October 21, when it reaches its closest point to the Sun and brightens significantly. By then, it will appear just below the Summer Triangle stars, glowing faintly with a bluish-green hue.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) was discovered earlier in January by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona. Unlike SWAN, Lemmon has been brightening steadily for months as it approaches Earth.
Around October 12, it will emerge low in the northwestern sky near the Big Dipper. By October 16, it will pass close to Cor Caroli, a bright star in Canes Venatici, as per a report by Forbes.
On the evening of October 21, Lemmon will be positioned beneath the Big Dipper and may be bright enough to glimpse without optical aid, though binoculars are recommended for clearer viewing.
The Orionid meteor shower, which originates from debris left behind by Halley's Comet, will peak on the nights of October 21-22, delivering an estimated 20 meteors per hour under ideal dark-sky conditions. The meteors, often fast and bright, will appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises high in the southeast after midnight.
The event's timing is considered nearly perfect, the peak coincides with a new moon on October 21, ensuring dark skies for both the comets and meteors. Astronomers suggest that observers plan trips to rural or designated Dark Sky areas to fully enjoy the cosmic display.
While comets are notoriously unpredictable in brightness, the possibility of seeing two at once in the same week is unusual. Combined with a moonless Orionid peak, October's celestial display is drawing attention from astronomers and skywatching communities alike.
Tips for Viewing
The Orionid meteor shower will peak on the nights of October 21-22, 2025, producing up to 20 meteors per hour under dark skies.
Two comets, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), are forecast to brighten around the same week, with their closest approach to Earth occurring on October 21.