Rare sight in the sky on Diwali: Two comets seen together
New Delhi: The Indian skies are witnessing rare sights during the Diwali festival of lights. Two comets have arrived in the country's skies. These comets are named C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN). Both can be clearly seen through binoculars from dark locations. The best time to view both comets will be about an hour and a half after sunset any night this week.
Return to the Solar System after 20,000 Years
Comet SWAN has returned to the Solar System after approximately 20,000 years, while Comet Lemmon will be visible in 3175. There is considerable curiosity among people about these comets, which have entered the Solar System after thousands of years. The most important thing is that seeing two large comets simultaneously is rare. Both comets recently passed close to Earth.
Comet SWAN passed close to Earth on Monday, and Comet Lemmon on Tuesday. Lemmon is the brighter of the two, though it's not easily visible to the naked eye. Its current brightness is magnitude 4.5, making it technically visible. On a scale of 1 to 10, any celestial object with a magnitude less than 6.5 is visible to the naked eye.
Visible an hour and a half after sunset
These comets can be clearly seen through binoculars or a telescope. The best time to view them is about an hour and a half after sunset, around 7 p.m. Lemmon is visible in the northwestern sky in the constellation Bootes, near the Big Dipper. It sets around 7:45 p.m.
Comets Lemmon and SWAN are newly discovered comets. Lemmon was discovered on January 3, 2025, as part of the Mount Lemmon Survey. SWAN was discovered by Ukrainian astronomer Vladimir Bezugly. Both comets originate from outside the solar system, generating considerable attention. They are the first comets to be visible in the sky in over a year.
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