Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it’s a brand-new comet streaking across our skies. Just this month, comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was spotted for the very first time by an amateur astronomer, and Aussies are in prime position to spot it as it may reach peak brightness over the next month while moving closer to Earth. While the comet is tricky to see with the naked eye, a good telescope should still give you a stunning view of this astronomical phenomenon. So, whether you’re an avid stargazer or just hoping to balance your cosmic ledger, here’s how you can catch a glimpse of this dazzling new comet in Australia.
Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was first spotted on September 11, 2025, by Ukrainian amateur astronomer Vladimir Bezugly. While analysing online sky images from the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) camera on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, he noticed a tiny moving blob near the sun – which turned out to be a brand-new comet, and a bright one for that matter. Since Bezugly's discovery, many astronomers – mostly in the Southern Hemisphere – have spotted it as well, with the comet earning its official place in the cosmic record on September 15.
The comet has an estimated +6 magnitude (brightness level) that it’s expected to maintain from October 2 to 20, peaking around October 12. That puts it just beyond naked-eye visibility, even under dark, moonless skies. But Dimitri Douchin, co-founder of Blue Mountains Stargazing, assures us “it’s still visible with a good telescope and astrophotography setup.”
Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) passed perihelion – its closest point to the sun – on September 12, at a distance of roughly 75.20 million kilometres. This proximity means it’s been mainly visible from the Southern Hemisphere, as it’s too close to the sun to be easily seen north of the equator.
Douchin adds, “At the moment, the comet is setting together with Mars in the eastern sky in the constellation Virgo just after sunset. It is just at the edge of visibility in the latitudes of Sydney and is better seen in the southern parts of Australia.”
The comet is now travelling away from the sun towards Earth, and it will reach perigee – its closest point to our planet – on October 21 at a distance of 40.38 million kilometres away. After this, Australians will have to wait another 620 years to catch a glimpse of Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) in our skies.