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Comet Lemmon Enters Peak Viewing Window for Naked‑Eye Spectacle Oct. 25–31

The long‑period visitor is set to glow brightest for Northern Hemisphere observers following its Oct. 21 close approach.

Overview

  • Best viewing is just after sunset on the western sky, with the comet near Arcturus in Boötes this week and crossing toward Ophiuchus around Halloween.
  • Visibility favors the Northern Hemisphere through late October, with continued views into early November and improving prospects for southern latitudes thereafter.
  • Closest approach occurred around Oct. 21 at roughly 90–101 million kilometers from Earth, marking the start of its brightest public viewing phase.
  • Observers report a green coma with a bluish ion tail and a more yellowish dust tail, typical of sublimating ices and ionized gases.
  • A second long‑period visitor, Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2), is also on display as the Orionid meteor shower remains active, creating a rare multi‑event sky show.