Capture the Celestial Magic: Spot Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN This Sunday-All You Need is a Banana!

Skywatchers are in for an extraordinary experience this Sunday, October 19, 2025, as two comets, Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and SWAN (C/2025 R2), near their brightest phases. A simple method, described as tracing a “banana-shaped” curve, can help enthusiasts find the glowing wonders from the depths of space, according to a report by Forbes. Both comets will be visible in the night sky and can be spotted with binoculars during a brief window shortly after sunset.

Astronomers report that Comet Lemmon is swiftly approaching the Sun, while the dimmer Comet SWAN is gradually moving away. The two comets are set to make their closest approach to Earth early next week, aligning with the Orionid meteor shower and the new moon, which will provide dark and ideal observing conditions.

Discovered in early 2025, Comet Lemmon will pass about 55.4 million miles from Earth on October 21, swinging around the Sun two weeks later at a distance of 49.25 million miles. Currently shining at a magnitude of +4.9, Lemmon is bright enough to be seen through binoculars or small telescopes under dark skies. In contrast, Comet SWAN, which has a slightly dimmer magnitude of +5.9, will be visible in the southwestern sky, tracing a faint path away from the Sun. Astronomers encourage viewers to take advantage of this weekend to observe both comets, as moonlight interference will hinder visibility toward the end of October.

Locating Comet Lemmon is straightforward and requires no professional-grade equipment-just clear weather, a dark sky, and the banana-shaped trick. Early risers or those venturing out just after sunset should begin by finding the Big Dipper in the northwestern sky. By visualizing a curved path along the handle of the Big Dipper, stargazers can follow this arc down towards Comet Lemmon, which will appear just below Cor Caroli, the brightest star in the constellation Canes Venatici. From New York City, the comet is expected to be visible about seven degrees above the horizon around 5:43 a.m. EDT for those observing at dawn.

Evening observers can catch sight of the comets roughly 90 minutes after sunset, around 7:36 to 8:06 p.m. EDT, as sunset occurs at 6:06 p.m. Lemmon will appear in the northwest sky, rising higher as the night progresses, while Comet SWAN will fade faster in the southwestern horizon. For those in rural or low-light areas, commonly known as Dark Sky Places, the best visibility conditions await.

In addition to the “banana” method, astronomers advise using digital Comet Tracker tools. Websites like In-The-Sky.com offer real-time finder charts, and popular stargazing apps-such as Sky Guide, Stellarium, and SkySafari-can display precise locations of the comets based on user coordinates. The Comet Observation Database indicates that both Lemmon and SWAN have been continuously brightening over the past week.

Named after the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, Comet Lemmon follows a long, elliptical orbit through the outer solar system. On October 21, it will achieve its closest approach to Earth, and two weeks later, it will reach perihelion-the point in its orbit closest to the Sun. The stunning greenish hue of Comet Lemmon comes from diatomic carbon molecules in its coma, which glow when illuminated by sunlight.

This weekend offers an exceptional opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts, as the combination of no moonlight and favorable weather conditions in much of the Northern Hemisphere will create ideal visibility. “Comets like Lemmon and SWAN remind us how dynamic our solar system remains,” remarked an astronomy enthusiast from the American Meteor Society. They highlight the accessibility of stargazing, where simple tools like binoculars and basic celestial navigation techniques can foster a deeper connection to the cosmos.

Original Source: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/comet-lemmon-and-comet-swan-to-brighten-the-sky-on-sunday-heres-how-you-can-spot-them-with-just-a-banana/articleshow/124672057.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-10-18 21:48:00