Two Comets to Light Up the Night Sky

Two icy visitors from the outer solar system are about to put on a show. Comet Lemmon and Comet Swan are making their way towards Earth, offering a unique chance for skywatchers to catch a glimpse of these rare celestial events. Comet Swan is the closer of the two, coming within about 24 million miles of Earth. Comet Lemmon is a bit farther out, at around 56 million miles. Both comets are expected to be at their brightest between Monday and Tuesday. This is a great opportunity for anyone with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to see something amazing. If you don't have your own telescope, don't worry. The Virtual Telescope Project and Astronomer Gianluca Masi are live streaming the event starting at 1:30 p. m. on Monday. You can watch it on their website or YouTube channel. Comet Lemmon was first spotted in January and has been getting brighter ever since. It's visible in the western evening sky after sunset. Comets like these are made of ice, dust, and gas. As they get closer to the Sun, they heat up and release gas and dust, creating the bright tails we see from Earth. Seeing comets like these is a reminder of how vast and mysterious our universe is. It's a chance to step outside, look up, and appreciate the wonders of the night sky.