Rare Comet Lemmon and Orionid Meteor Shower Light Up November Skies
A once-in-a-millennium celestial event – the close approach of Comet Lemmon – coincides with a peak in the reliable Orionid meteor shower this week, offering UK skygazers a spectacular astronomical display. Astronomers say Comet Lemmon won’t make another close approach to Earth for 1,300 years.
The opportunity to view Comet Lemmon, a “greenish cosmic snowball,” is best during the evening after sunset, and while binoculars are recommended, experts suggest it may be visible to the naked eye under exceptionally dark skies. The comet, first detected in January, reached its closest point to Earth on Tuesday, October 24th, at a distance of 56 million miles (90 million km).
A Comet Unlike Others
Comet Lemmon is currently at its peak visibility, according to a deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. “Comet Lemmon is pretty much at its best visibility right now,” they stated. The comet will appear in the western sky around an hour after sunset, gradually moving past the bright star Arcturus and towards the southwest over the coming days. Observers should look for a “fairly bright, fuzzy object.”
The relative ease of viewing Comet Lemmon with binoculars makes it particularly noteworthy. “The fact that you can see it easily with binoculars makes it fairly unusual, and I think for that reason alone it’s something to go and enjoy, particularly if you’ve never seen a comet before,” the astronomer added.
Another comet, Swan, also made a close approach on Tuesday, October 24th, coming within 24 million miles (39 million km) of Earth. However, Swan is best observed from the southern hemisphere using a telescope.
Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks
Adding to the celestial spectacle, the Orionid meteor shower is currently peaking, producing up to 20 meteors per hour. This dramatic light show is caused by debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. The shower is visible until early morning, offering a reliable and impressive display for astronomers in the UK.
Supermoon Season Continues
October also brought the opportunity to witness the harvest moon, the first of three consecutive supermoons scheduled to appear before the end of 2025. Supermoons appear larger and fuller due to the moon’s proximity to Earth in its orbit. The next supermoon is expected to rise on November 5th and is anticipated to be “the biggest one of all.”
The convergence of these astronomical events – a rare comet, a dependable meteor shower, and a series of supermoons – makes this month a particularly exciting time for stargazers.
