See Comet Lemmon cross paths with a cosmic serpent Oct. 26

Comet Lemmon will minimize via the neck of a cosmic serpent on the evening of Oct. 26, when it passes via the celebrities of the constellation Serpens Caput forward of its shut strategy to the solar in early November.

The wandering comet Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) was found on Jan. 3 earlier this 12 months and has been brightening dramatically over the course of its subsequent headlong dive into the inside photo voltaic system. The brightening occurred as a rise in warmth radiation from the solar vaporized icy supplies embedded in its construction, making a gaseous shell round its nucleus. The cometary materials was then caught up within the photo voltaic wind, resulting in the formation of a visually spectacular tail that shines within the mirrored gentle of the solar.

Comet Lemmon is at the moment estimated to have a magnitude of around +4.3 according to the Comet Observation Database (COBS) run by the Crni Vrh Observatory in Slovenia, which ought to make it seen to the unaided eye from darkish sky places.

Look to the western horizon from a darkish sky location at sundown on Oct. 26 to seek out Comet Lemmon’s hazy gentle shine straight beneath the triangle formation of stars representing the pinnacle of the nice snake within the constellation Serpens Caput. By the next evening, the comet can have minimize via the neck of the celestial serpent to strategy the constellation Ophiuchus, the “snake bearer”.

Serpens is the only constellation that appears in two halves in the night sky, with Serpens Caput appearing to the right of the constellation Ophiuchus, with Serpens Cauda — the tail — appearing to the snake bearer’s left.

Whilst Comet Lemmon is technically bright enough to view with the naked eye from a dark location, a telescope or binoculars will help reveal the reflected light of the ancient visitor. Be sure to check out our guide to photographing and observing comets and to peruse our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for capturing the night sky if you’re looking to update your gear!

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