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With its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 21, Comet Lemmon is now making a brief appearance. Its next visit won’t be for over a thousand years.

Comet Lemmon, a faint but beautiful green comet, is currently gliding through the night sky. It’s visible to the naked eye under dark, clear skies, though its subtle glow is much easier to spot with binoculars or a small telescope. The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 21, offering a rare opportunity to see it before it fades from view.

Look to the western horizon about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours after sunset. Comet Lemmon will appear low in the sky, passing just beneath the Big Dipper or Ursa Major.

While it may not be a headline-grabbing spectacle, Comet Lemmon is still a rare event. It won’t return until the year 3175, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it with your own eyes — if the skies are kind.

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Mandy Thalhuber

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With its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 21, Comet Lemmon is now making a brief appearance. Its next visit won’t be for over a thousand years.


Stars are visible through the silhouettes of tree canopies

A slice of Lemmon in the evening sky

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