Rare Green Comet to Light Up Bay Area Skies Thru Nov. 3

A newly discovered green comet is putting on a rare sky show over the Bay Area this week, and it won’t be back for more than a thousand years.

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), first spotted by scientists at Arizona’s Mount Lemmon Survey in January, is making its closest swing past Earth this month. Experts say it’s the brightest comet of the year, glowing a faint green as it streaks across the western sky.

To catch a glimpse, head to a dark spot away from city lights about 45 minutes after sunset and look low in the west. It may be visible to the naked eye, but binoculars will give you a better shot.

The comet should stick around through November 3 and reach its brightest point around October 26-27 as it swings around the Sun.

Cloudy skies from this week’s incoming storm could make viewing tough, but there will be other cosmic sights to enjoy. Saturn will be shining in the southeast around 8:30 p.m., and the Orionid meteor shower will still be sprinkling a few meteors across the sky.

Catch Comet Lemmon while you can. It won’t return for another 1,300 years.

Thanks to SF Gate for the heads up.