October skywatching: Two new comets, a meteor shower visible to the naked eye under the dark new Moon’s sky, best dates to watch

October is shaping up to be a special month for skywatchers, with not one but two newly discovered comets set to brighten the heavens just as a meteor shower peaks under the dark skies of a new moon. A newly discovered comet, C/2025 R2 (SWAN), could become visible to the naked eye in mid-October, just as another comet, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), is forecast to do the same. If predictions hold, stargazers may witness the rare sight of two comets and a meteor shower peaking together in the same week.

Comet SWAN25B, now officially named C/2025 R2 (SWAN), was first identified on September 11, 2025, through images captured by the SWAN (Solar Wind Anisotropies) instrument aboard NASA-ESA’s SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory). According to Universe Today, it was spotted by Ukrainian amateur astronomer Vladimir Bezugly before being classified and renamed by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center three days later.

This long-period comet is believed to orbit the sun roughly once every 22,554 years, as reported by EarthSky. Its tail spans a distance equivalent to the width of about five full moons in the night sky.

Close approach in October

Currently, C/2025 R2 is close to the sun and best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. However, as per The Sky Live, on October 21 the comet will make its closest approach to Earth, just 0.27 astronomical units (AU) away, about one-quarter of the distance from Earth to the sun.

At this time, astronomers predict the comet could brighten to magnitude 4, making it visible to the naked eye under dark skies, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. Observers may also witness an unusual meteor shower between October 4–6, if Earth passes through the comet’s debris trail.

Comet Lemmon arriving at the same time

Coincidentally, another comet, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), will also reach its closest point to Earth on October 21. Discovered in January by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona, this comet will pass at a distance of about 0.60 AU, according to Space.com. Like SWAN, Lemmon could also brighten to magnitude 4, giving skywatchers two naked-eye comets at the same time.

Both comets will be visible in the nights around October 20–23, coinciding with the new moon on October 21, when the skies will be darkest.

A perfect sky show with meteors

Adding to the spectacle, the Orionid meteor shower is set to peak on October 22-23, as per NASA. This means skywatchers could catch comets SWAN, Lemmon, and Orionid meteors all at once in the dark night sky.

The timeline

The nights of October 20–23 give the highest chance to see two bright comets plus a meteor shower under moonless skies ,a rare triple event.

• Oct. 20–21 → Both comets, SWAN (C/2025 R2) and Lemmon (C/2025 A6), will be at or near their closest approach.
  
  
• Oct. 21 → A new moon, meaning the sky will be darkest and best for visibility.
  
  
• Oct. 22–23 → The Orionid meteor shower peaks.
  

The last comet visible to the naked eye was C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in July 2020, while C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) offered binocular views in October 2024. If predictions hold, this October could deliver the most spectacular sky show in years.