Rare Celestial Alignment: Two Comets to Appear near Mars This Saturday
Skywatchers are in for a treat this Saturday, September 20th, as two comets - w/2025 R2 Swan and C/2025 K1 Atlas – will make a close approach to Mars in the western sky. This rare conjunction offers a unique possibility for observation, though binoculars or a telescope will be necessary to spot the icy visitors.
The comets are currently on their journeys toward the sun. Comet w/2025 R2 Swan will reach perihelion – its closest point to the sun – on October 8th, at just 0.33 astronomical units (approximately 49.5 million km). This proximity poses a risk of disintegration due to intense solar warming. C/2025 K1 Atlas will make its closest approach to Earth on November 26th, following an initial pass on August 13th. such close encounters are infrequent, making this a noteworthy event for both amateur and professional astronomers.
To view this spectacle, observers should look west after dusk, locating the bright, reddish planet Mars as a guide. The comets will appear to the left of Mars. Large binoculars (10×50 or 15×70) or telescopes between 150 and 200 mm in aperture are recommended for optimal viewing.
Astronomy apps like Stellarium, Star Walk, and Sky Safari can assist in locating the comets and Mars. A stunning image captured on September 19th by Francisco Mardones in chilean Patagonia,consisting of 50 fifteen-second exposures,showcases the comets alongside Mars,offering a preview of what observers may see. (Credit: Francisco Mardones via Spaceweather.com).
