{"id":795098,"date":"2025-04-07T21:33:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T02:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=795098"},"modified":"2025-04-07T21:33:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T02:33:14","slug":"new-comet-swan25f-see-it-in-binoculars-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=795098","title":{"rendered":"New Comet SWAN25F! See it in binoculars now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nThe path of Comet SWAN25F looking east-northeast before sunrise. In early April you can use binoculars to see it among the stars of Pegasus the Flying Horse. Image via Eddie Irizarry\/ Stellarium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Meet Comet SWAN25F<\/h3>\n
There\u2019s a new comet speeding toward the sun, and you can see it with binoculars in the morning sky. SWAN, an instrument aboard the European Space Agency\u2019s SOHO spacecraft that studies the sun, first detected the comet, giving the comet its name of SWAN25F. Australian amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazo was examining the latest images taken by the spacecraft, and on April 1, he reported that a pretty obvious comet was visible in these images.<\/p>\n
To see the comet, look toward the east-northeastern horizon just before sunrise. Although the comet is gradually brightening, at the moment you\u2019ll still need binoculars or a small telescope to see it. <\/p>\n
The good news is that if the comet survives its perihelion \u2013 or closest approach to the sun \u2013 in a few weeks, it might be visible during sunset. Just how bright it will be remains to be seen, as comets have shown us they are erratic and unpredictable. But if the comet survives its closest approach to the sun, it would make its transition from the dawn sky to the dusk sky during the first days of May. <\/p>\n
By then, the comet\u2019s very high speed will be noticeable when comparing its position during each sunset. <\/p>\n
Preliminary observations suggest that closest approach to Earth and to the sun will occur on the same day, on May 1, 2025. The comet will be passing at around 31 million miles from the sun, or just inside of planet Mercury\u2019s average orbit. <\/p>\n
At closest approach, the comet\u2019s brightness or magnitude might be between 4.5 to 5. But it will probably be quite close to the horizon.<\/p>\n
Look for the comet in Pegasus<\/h3>\n
During the first days of April, the comet has been inside the Great Square of Pegasus. And it\u2019s moving toward Andromeda. <\/p>\n
In fact, one of the stars of the Great Square can help you locate the comet. Look toward the star Alpha Andromedae, or Alpheratz, the brightest of the four corner stars. Comet SWAN25F will pass not far from Alpheratz around April 13, 2025.<\/p>\nComet SWAN25F is in the constellation Pegasus during April 2025. The comet will be particularly close to one of the stars of the Great Square, Alpheratz, around April 13. Image via Eddie Iriziarry\/ Stellarium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
More on Comet SWAN25F<\/h3>\n
The new comet appears as a small green sphere, which means its coma \u2013 or cometary atmosphere \u2013 has reactive molecules called diatomic carbon (C2). These appear green when sunlight illuminates the celestial visitor.<\/p>\n
Long-exposure images are also showing a faint tail that extends for more than two moon diameters.<\/p>\n
Latest reported brightness or magnitude is around 8 to 7.5 and improving (the lower the number, the brighter). Keep checking back, because we\u2019ll keep you updated on its progress!<\/p>\n
Bottom line: The new comet SWAN25F is approaching the sun and you can currently see it with binoculars in the morning sky. Keep track of its progress here.<\/p>\n
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Eddie Irizarry<\/h4>\n
View Articles\n <\/p><\/div>\n
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About the Author:<\/h6>\n
Eddie Irizarry of the Sociedad de Astronom\u00eda del Caribe (Astronomical Society of the Caribbean) has been a NASA Solar System Ambassador since 2004. He loves public outreach and has published multiple astronomy articles for EarthSky, as well as for newspapers in Puerto Rico. He has also offered dozens of conferences related to asteroids and comets at the Arecibo Observatory.
\n Asteroid 33012EddieIrizarry, a 7.8 km space rock, has been named in his honor.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Star](\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/04\/Location-of-Comet-SWAN25F-just-before-sunrise-Closer-Look-with-label-e1744076579107.jpg\")