A fresh image exhibits the extensive tail of Comet Lemmon following its contortion and fragmentation by a potent blast of solar wind on Oct. 18.(Image credit: Petr Horálek)
A remarkable novel image of the dazzling “Comet Lemmon” (C/2025 A6) displays a fragment of its substantial tail, not long after the celestial appendage was briefly rent apart by the sun. The celestial pulverization took place mere days before the comet is planned to achieve its nearest proximity to Earth on Tuesday (Oct. 21).
Astrophotographer Petr Horálek snapped the breathtaking image from Lake Seč in Czechia (otherwise known as the Czech Republic) during the closing hours of Saturday (Oct. 18), according to Spaceweather.com. The original comprehensive photo (observe below) additionally presents subtle rosy-red auroras that hovered near the horizon.
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Nevertheless, the CME did not disintegrate the comet’s tail. Alternatively, the impairment was possibly produced by an intense surge of solar wind, which bent and — in some instances — utterly severed the procession of gas and particulate matter. This form of undulation along the tail is rather commonplace among significant comets, most notably as they move closer to the sun. However, the absolute splitting of fractions of the trailing appendage, recognized as disconnection occasions, are considerably rarer.
This is not the initial instance that Lemmon’s tail has been pummeled by the sun. The tail was likewise agitated by a powerful solar surge in late September and underwent a trivial disconnection episode on Oct. 4, according to Live Science’s sister site Space.com. In each circumstance, the comet’s tail probably reverted to its usual state within a handful of hours of being disrupted.
The comet and its broken tail were captured from the perimeters of Czechia’s Lake Seč.
Comet Lemmon was spotted at the beginning of this year, on Jan. 3, by investigators at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter observatory located in Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains. It is an aperiodic comet that has possibly circled the sun about every 1,350 years.
Lemmon will perform its nearest approach to Earth today (Tuesday, Oct. 21), when it will near within 56 million miles (90 million kilometers) of our world, before attaining its nearest location to the sun, or perihelion, on Nov. 8.
Comet Lemmon’s tail was also gently impacted by an outburst of solar wind on Sept. 23.
The comet has turned significantly brighter in preceding weeks as its increased nearness to the sun has prompted the cloud of gas, ice and dust encircling it — known as its coma — to amplify. It presently shows an apparent magnitude of 4, rendering it clearly visible to the unaided eye.
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People in the Northern Hemisphere can spot the comet in the northwestern expanse, arranged just beneath the Big Dipper, shortly following dusk. Despite being noticeable to the naked eye, the optimal views will be accomplished using a satisfactory backyard telescope or a set of stargazing binoculars. To seize the finest attainable snapshots of Lemmon, you can inspect our comet photography guide.
Another vibrant comet, designated SWAN, also attained its nearest spot to Earth on Monday (Oct. 20) and is presently detectable in the night sky not far from Lemmon. However, SWAN is not noticeable to the naked eye and can solely be observed via stargazing tools.
Harry BakerSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff Writer
Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior and paleontology. His recent work on the solar maximum won “best space submission” at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the “top scoop” category at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He also writes Live Science’s weekly Earth from space series.
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