Rare Green Comet lemmon to Grace โฃOctober Skies after Millennia-Long Journey
JAKARTA, โฃIndonesia – Skywatchers areโ preparing forโข aโค celestial spectacle as Comet Lemmon, aโ visitor from the outer solar system, is predicted toโข be visible in the Indonesian night sky starting in early October 2025. The comet, returning after an estimated thousands of years, has captivated the astronomical community due to its โคspeed and distinctive green glow.
First detected traveling towardsโ the inner โsolar system at โspeeds reaching โ130,000 โฃmphโ (209,000 โขkm/h), Comet โคLemmon is currently exhibitingโ characteristics that make it particularly noteworthy. As โit approaches the โsun,โ its icy surface is vaporizing, formingโฃ a coma – a thin atmosphere surrounding the comet’s nucleus – andโ a possibly vast tail.
The comet’s striking green hueโ is attributed to theโฃ presence of diatomic carbon (C2) inโค its coma, which emits green light when exposed to solar radiation. This โฃphenomenon is similar to that observed in other recentโฃ comets, including C/2022 E3 โข(Green Comet) โin 2023 andโข 12P/Pons-Brooks (Devil’s โComet) โคin 2024. Intense solarโ winds in late September caused the โcomet’s tail to appear wavy.
According to astronomer Thomas Djamaluddin from โthe National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the โbest โฃviewing time for observers in the northernโ hemisphere, โคincluding Indonesia, will โbe in โearly โขOctober 2025, before sunrise.The comet will reach its closest position on Saturday, โOctober 20, โข2025, with optimal viewing between 04:00 WIB and sunrise.
After October 12, 2025, the comet can be observed after Maghribโค (sunset) in theโฃ western โsky. Itโค will become easierโ to โฃsee and brighter after October 15,โ potentially reaching a magnitude ofโ 2.5 by the โคend of โOctober – bright โขenough to be visible without a telescope under favorableโค conditions with minimal light pollution.
