Oct. 21 could be a good night to see a comet : NPR

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Oct. 21, 2025 is a very special night in the sky. A comet known as Lemmon will be visible if skies are clear, and there’s a meteor shower, too.



AILSA CHANG, HOST:

So Mary Louise, got any big plans this month?

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Well, you know, the usual – leaves are changing, finally sweater weather, once-in-a-lifetime comet viewing.

CHANG: Sweater weather (laughter). OK, but one of those things is not like the others. Can you just expand on that last celestial part?

KELLY: I can. This is next week. A comet known as Lemmon will be as close to Earth as it’s going to get, and it’ll be bright enough to see with the naked eye.

CHANG: Ooh, very cool.

KELLY: Yes, and astronomers calculate it is on a 1,350-year orbit around our sun.

CHANG: Meaning this is a limited-time offer.

KELLY: Exactly. And it’s next Tuesday, the 21 – Lemmon and a new moon. It’s NPR News.

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