A newly discovered comet named C/2025 A6 Lemmon has been visible in the sky for the past few weeks, with the best viewing opportunity now at hand. Astronomer David C. Fuls spotted the comet on Jan. 3 through the Mount Lemmon survey, a program that detects near-Earth objects. The comet made its closest approach to Earth on Tuesday, appearing near the horizon, but it has since ascended higher in the sky, enhancing its visibility.
According to Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society in London, Comet Lemmon is currently at its peak visibility. This celestial event is a rare occurrence as the comet won’t return for another 1,300 years.
To locate the comet, observers should look toward the western sky after sunset. By referencing the Big Dipper, with the first star in the handle pointing to the bright star Arcturus in the Boötes constellation, Comet Lemmon can be spotted slightly above and to the left of Arcturus.
Over the next few days, the comet will continue its path towards the southwestern sky while maintaining a similar altitude. Although amateur astronomers have captured stunning images of Comet Lemmon, viewers should expect it to appear as a fuzzy object in the sky.
Despite not being as visually striking as past comets like Hale-Bopp or NEOWISE, Comet Lemmon is relatively bright and can be easily seen with binoculars, making it a unique experience, especially for first-time comet observers. The comet has significantly brightened over the past month and is now visible to the naked eye in dark locations, with city dwellers also using binoculars to view it.
For optimal viewing, Friday presents a good opportunity as the moon will be minimally illuminated and positioned below the horizon. However, as the moon progresses to its first quarter by Monday, it will become more prominent in the night sky. Comet Lemmon will be observable in the Northern Hemisphere until mid-November, after which it will gradually descend lower on the southwestern horizon.
To aid in locating the comet, astronomy apps such as SkySafari and Stellarium can be helpful tools for enthusiasts.