October Sky Spectacle: Two comets and meteor shower combine for stunning display

Two Comets and Meteor Shower Combine for Stunning Display. (Image: Canva)

Astronomers and skywatchers are in for a treat as two bright comets, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), swing close to Earth during the same week the Orionid meteor shower peaks. This uncommon alignment promises one of the most dazzling night sky displays in years.

In October 2025, comets C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will make their closest approaches to Earth while the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak. This rare combination presents skywatchers with a unique opportunity to observe two comets in the sky alongside a meteor shower at an ideal time for viewing.

Discovered in September 2025, Comet SWAN will brighten noticeably as it reaches perihelion on 21 October. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere can spot SWAN in the southwestern sky just after dusk, near the star Zubenelgenubi in the constellation Libra. It will continue along its path through Scorpius, Ophiuchus and Serpens. This provides a striking visual display in the autumn sky.

Discovered in January 2025, Comet Lemmon will appear in the northwestern sky around the Big Dipper on 12 October. By 16 October, Lemmon will be nearly in line with the bright star Cor Caroli, and on 21 October, it will be positioned below the Big Dipper.

Originating from debris left by Halley’s Comet, the Orionid meteor shower peaks on 21–22 October, producing an estimated 20 meteors per hour under dark skies. Meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises high in the southeast after midnight.

The rare triple cosmic event of two bright comets and a meteor shower offer an unparalleled spectacle for skywatchers. The new moon on 21 October will provide ideal viewing conditions.