Exciting news for stargazers! In mid-September 2025, an amateur astronomer, poring over data from NASA’s SOHO spacecraft, made an incredible discovery: a brand-new comet, officially designated C/2025 R2 (SWAN). This icy visitor has already swung past the Sun and is rapidly growing brighter. By the end of September 2025, it was already observable through binoculars, and its luminosity continues to increase dramatically. This celestial visitor is projected to make a close flyby of Earth around October 20-21, 2025, at an altitude of approximately 0.27 astronomical units (AU) – that’s roughly 40 million kilometers from our planet. Under ideal dark sky conditions, it might even be visible to the naked eye! Keep your eyes peeled on the western horizon just after sunset to catch this rare spectacle.
Comet SWAN’s October Close Encounter
NASA has confirmed that Comet SWAN is now bright enough to be seen with binoculars. As it draws closer to the Sun, the solar heat causes its ice to vaporize, creating a brilliant, glowing coma (the fuzzy atmosphere around the comet’s nucleus) and a distinctive tail. Telescopic observations have already captured its beautiful greenish gas tail. Its closest approach to Earth will be around October 20-21, 2025, at a distance of about 40 million kilometers. While keen observers in very dark locations might glimpse it without aid, using binoculars or a small telescope will significantly enhance the view, revealing more of its stunning features.
Your Guide to Spotting Comet SWAN
To best observe Comet SWAN, you’ll want to look towards the western horizon shortly after sunset. During the early part of October, the comet will be situated in the constellation Libra, near the star Alpha Librae (also known as Zubenelgenubi). By the end of October, it will have moved into Aquarius. The absolute best viewing dates are expected to be October 20-21, 2025, when it is nearest to Earth. The comet is anticipated to reach an approximate visual magnitude of +5, meaning it could just be visible to the naked eye under perfectly dark skies, away from light pollution. However, using binoculars will undoubtedly provide a much clearer and more rewarding viewing experience. It will start its journey in the southern sky and gradually move northward by mid-October, making it accessible to a wider range of observers.