Two bright green comets are lighting up the night sky, visible for those in the Northern Hemisphere. Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN originate from the outer edges of our solar system, potentially from the Oort Cloud, an area far beyond Pluto. Comet Lemmon is set to make its closest approach to Earth soon, while Comet SWAN will pass by soon after, but it’s moving away from the sun, so it may fade quickly.
Seeing two comets at once is a special treat, though not entirely unheard of. According to Carson Fuls, director of a sky survey at the University of Arizona, such events are rare but can happen. If you want to catch a glimpse, head outside shortly after sunset. Look west for Comet SWAN and towards the northern horizon for Comet Lemmon.
Experts suggest they could still be visible with binoculars through the end of the month, though their brightness might vary. Valerie Rapson, an astronomer at the State University of New York at Oneonta, notes the unpredictability of a comet’s glow.
Comets are like frozen time capsules from the solar system’s early days. As they approach the sun, they heat up and release gases, forming their distinct tails. Comet Lemmon was discovered earlier this year while searching for near-Earth asteroids. Comet SWAN was found by an amateur astronomer using photos taken by a NASA spacecraft.
These comets appear green due to the gases escaping from their surfaces, but when viewed from Earth, they’ll look gray and fuzzy. Earlier this year, a green comet shattered as it neared the sun, disappointing many who hoped to see a spectacular display. This isn’t the first time we’ve witnessed notable comets—Tsuchinshan-Atlas zipped by Earth in 2024, while Neowise, Hale-Bopp, and Hyakutake dazzled us back in the 1990s.
In recent years, public interest in astronomy has surged, especially with the growth of social media platforms. Many users share their comet sightings and experiences, creating a sense of community among stargazers. It’s fascinating to think about how celestial events can bring people together, even if they’re light-years away.
For more insights into comet discoveries and astronomy, check out resources like NASA or the European Space Agency.
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Meteors and meteorites, Planets, General news, Astronomy, U.S. news, Carson Fuls, Science, World news, Oneonta, U.S. News, World News
