C/2025 F2 SWAN

Closest to Sun on 2025 May 1at 0.33AU.
Closest to Earth on 2025 May 1 at 0.96AU
Maximum magnitude 4-6 in early May 2025
Orbital period: 70,000 yrs inbound

This new comet arrives at perihelion and perigee simultaneously on May 1, however viewing will be restricted to northern hemisphere observers at this time.
It could peak at magnitude 4, but this is highly uncertain at the time of writing. It may even disintegrate and we don’t see anything at all.
Should the comet survive its Solar encounter, it will head rapidly southwards and become visible for southerners from about the second week of May.

chart for 35S latitude in Australian Central Standard time. Generally look 1-1.5 hrs after sunset

On May 7, the comet will be situated deep in twilight to the northwest, adjacent to Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus.
You will need an unobstructed view of the horizon towards sunset and a good pair of binoculars. Twilight will interfere.
The comet will gain altitude each night, becoming progressively easier to see, but this will be offset by its gradual fading, and moonlight interference.

On May 11, the comet enters the constellation of Orion and can be found near Orion’s Bow asterism (Pi1,2,3,4 Ori)

By May 15, it will locate near Pi 5,6 Ori. (tip of the bow)

The night of May 16 will offer the first moon free views. By then it will have faded a couple of magnitudes from its peak in early May.
Possibly now magnitude 6 to 8.

On May 19, it will be 40’ east of diffuse nebula NGC1788, offering a good photographic opportunity.
Comet SWAN continues its southeasterly trek through Orion and by May 23, will locate within a degree east of Rigel (Beta Ori)
On May 27, the now magnitude 9-11 comet enters into the constellation of Lepus and situates adjacent to magnitude 12 galaxy NGC1888.

What are its survival prospects?
The good news is that it appears to have rounded the Sun before, some 70,000 years ago.
However, its light curve since discovery has been unstable, experiencing at least one notable outburst on April 6.
Outbursting comets could indicate fragmentation.
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