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Comet Lemmon in November

Michael E. Bakich — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 21:25:52 +0000

Now that we’ve passed Halloween and moved into November, comet-watchers expect that Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will fade. But we really can’t tell right now because the bright Moon is spreading so much light in our night sky that it makes the comet hard to see. So, between now and November 5, let’s take a break and wait untilContinue reading "Comet Lemmon in November"

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Comet Lemmon will be a Halloween treat

Michael E. Bakich — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:46:38 +0000

Most comet-watchers thought that Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) would reach its brightest October 21 when it was closest to Earth. But it continued to brighten for several days past that date. And it still looks good. In fact, current estimates of its brightness put it near 4th magnitude, which would normally make it easy to spot for sharp-eyed observers.Continue reading "Comet Lemmon will be a Halloween treat"

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Remembering Comet Hale-Bopp

Stuart Atkinson — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Today, most comets are found by robots. Wherever you are reading this, whatever time of the day or night it is, the unblinking electronic eyes of automated surveys like ATLAS or Pan-STARRS will be staring into the sky, seeking out these fascinating icy nomads. But legend tells of a time long ago, back in theContinue reading "Remembering Comet Hale-Bopp"

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The best images of Comet Lemmon from Astronomy readers

Astronomy Staff — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:46:11 +0000

Discovered Jan. 3, 2025, by the 60-inch telescope at the Mount Lemmon Survey near Tucson, Arizona, Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) put on a spectacular show this fall. Plus, the comet had a surprise for observers: While most believed it would reach peak brightness on October 21, Lemmon defied expectations and continued to brighten for severalContinue reading "The best images of Comet Lemmon from Astronomy readers"

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Comet Lemmon is still a worthy target

Michael E. Bakich — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:16:01 +0000

“Comets are like cats. They both have tails and do what they want,” said comet discoverer David Levy many times. Well, Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is proving his words true. Most comet-watchers thought that Lemmon would reach its brightest October 21 when it was closest to Earth. But it continued to brighten for several days past that date.Continue reading "Comet Lemmon is still a worthy target"

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See Comet Lemmon at its brightest

Michael E. Bakich — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 16:29:56 +0000

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is currently a 5th-magnitude fuzzball low in the northwestern sky. This means that, from a dark site, sharp-eyed observers could glimpse it with their naked eyes. And it’s predicted to get brighter. By how much? Between two and six times as bright as it is now. (We hope. Comets are fickle.) On Sunday night, the comet will be inContinue reading "See Comet Lemmon at its brightest"

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Now’s the time to see Comet Lemmon

Michael E. Bakich — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:03:14 +0000

During the past week, you had to get up before morning twilight to spot Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon). And you still can. But thanks to its position in the north, now you also can see it in the evening sky. The comet is currently passing in front of the stars of the constellation Canes VenaticiContinue reading "Now’s the time to see Comet Lemmon"

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How to see Comet Lemmon

Michael E. Bakich — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:43:11 +0000

UPDATE Friday, October 17: Looking for the most recent details on observing Comet Lemmon? Check out our updated article here! If you get up before twilight begins to paint the eastern sky, you might be able to spot Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon). It’s currently in the constellation Ursa Major the Great Bear near the 3rd-magnitudeContinue reading "How to see Comet Lemmon"

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Third interstellar visitor discovered racing through our solar system

Brooks Mendenhall — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:16:56 +0000

A rare visitor from beyond the solar system has just been found streaking through our cosmic neighborhood. On July 1, 2025, the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, detected an object now confirmed to have interstellar origins. Initially tagged A11pl3Z, it has been officially designated 3I/ATLAS and C/2025 N1Continue reading "Third interstellar visitor discovered racing through our solar system"

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Remembering Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: The comet of the year

Mark Zastrow — Mon, 05 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Comets are notoriously unpredictable. Some of the most spectacular of these icy visitors pop up unexpectedly, careening toward the Sun and bursting out in spectacular fashion with little advance notice. Others are spotted over a year before they make their closest approach, but break apart and fizzle out. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was the rare comet thatContinue reading "Remembering Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: The comet of the year"

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