Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Discovered on April 1 by Aussie amateur Michael Mattiazzo, Comet SWAN25F was hiding in plain sight within solar images from ESA’s SOHO spacecraft.
Though still faint at magnitude 7.5–8, early risers can spot the comet low in the east-northeast sky just before dawn—binoculars recommended!
SWAN25F is cruising through Pegasus toward Andromeda. Around April 13, look near the star Alpheratz to glimpse its greenish coma and dust tail.
That eerie green fuzz? It’s from diatomic carbon in the comet’s coma, glowing as solar radiation breaks it apart—classic comet chemistry!
The comet’s real test comes May 1, as it grazes the sun at just 31 million miles. Will it brighten... or burn out?
If it survives its solar encounter, SWAN25F might flip to the evening sky by early May—possibly visible to the naked eye at magnitude 4.5.
Watch night to night as the comet shifts quickly across the sky—its motion a cosmic dash through the constellations.
As it nears Andromeda, the comet offers a dramatic contrast: icy visitor meets galactic giant in a rare visual pairing.
Comets are wild cards. Will SWAN25F dazzle like NEOWISE or fizzle like ISON? The cosmos decides—and skywatchers watch.