Comet Lemmon to Grace October 2025 Skies, Potential for Naked-Eye viewing
A comet, โofficially โคdesignatedโฃ Cometโ Lemmon, is projected to pass near Earth’s orbit in Octoberโ 2025, offering potential viewing opportunities for skywatchers. Experts predict peak visibility around October 22nd, though some forecasts โsuggest a later peak on October 27th.
At its closest approach, the โคcomet willโฃ be approximately 89 million kilometers โfrom Earth. While scientists estimate it may be faintly visible to the naked eye under exceptionally dark,light-pollution-free skies,binoculars or a small telescope will likely โbe โneeded for observation,notably in โฃurban โareas.
According to predictions from Japanese comet expert Seiichi Yoshida and Dutch cometโฃ expert Gideonโ van buitenen, key viewing dates include:
October 6, 2025: โ Comet becomes easily observable in the constellationโ Ursa Major, near the star โTania Australis.
October 12, 2025: Comet visible โฃin the northwestern sky approximately 90 โminutes after sunset.
October โฃ16, 2025: Comet observable for a few minutes with a telescope.
Octoberโข 22, 2025: Peak visibility around โ7:30 PMโค local time, appearing lowโข in the northwest, approximately 10 degrees โขabove โคthe shining star Arcturus inโ the constellation Boรถtes (roughly the width of anโข adult’s fist held at arm’s length).
astronomers have noted โa distinctive greenish hue in recent images of Comet Lemmon, attributed to carbon molecules within the comet.Itsโ gas tail is expected to appear bluish, caused by ultraviolet radiation from the โคsun. Whileโฃ the tailโ isn’t anticipated to be as extensive as thoseโ of larger comets, the phenomenon remains a point of interest.
Daniel W.E. โขGreen of the Astronomy Telegramโค Center Bureau โsuggests the โpeak activityโ may occur on October 27, 2025.
Comets areโ categorized as eitherโฃ “bright” or “public.” Bright comets, appearing two orโค three times every 15-20 years, are โreadily visible โwithout aid. Comet Lemmon is โคclassified as a “public” comet, requiringโฃ optical assistance for viewing, butโ is considered relatively bright โcomparedโค toโ others in its category.
Astronomersโ caution โขthat predicting cometโ behavior is complex and estimates of brightnessโฃ can vary.โฃ The comet may appear brighter or dimmer than currently projected.