A ‘missing’ comet remains visible from the U.S.: how and when to see it

The lump of ice, rock, and frozen gases began its journey from the edge of the Solar System some 35,000 years ago, around the time humans were painting lions and mammoths on the walls of Chauvet Cave in southern France. Nudged by a gravitational interaction out of the Oort Cloud, a vast reservoir of icy bodies, this distant traveller began its long plunge toward the sun.

Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) [see below for naming explanation] was first spotted from Earth in late March, already within the average orbit of our planet but still on the far side of the Solar System. As it swung closer to the sun, it grew steadily brighter, the heat and radiation triggering jets of gas and dust that formed a glowing tail. Then, on April 5, it suddenly brightened—holding that brilliance until mid-April, when it abruptly faded. The likely explanation: it had disintegrated. All that is left is a gently dispersing dust cloud.

While the exact mechanics of comet disintegration aren’t fully understood, the basic cause is believed to be extreme solar radiation triggering the release of more gas and dust than the comet can handle, at which point it breaks apart. When the comet began to disintegrate it’s likely the ice in the interior became exposed to the sun, turning to gas and causing C/2025 F2 (SWAN) to glow brighter before finally breaking up.

The good news for sky gazers is that the dust cloud of C/2025 F2 (SWAN) is still visible, though you will need a decent pair of binoculars (60-70mm aperture) or small- to medium-sized telescope to see it. The longer the dust cloud disperses, the more powerful instrument you’ll need. Experts say the cloud should remain visible for at least a few weeks.

How to see the disintegrated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN)

For those in the US and the Northern Hemisphere, to see Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN), look low on the northeast horizon an hour or two before dawn, in the constellation of Andromeda. Try to find a location with minimal light pollution, away from the city and under clear skies. A new moon on April 27 will make the comet easier to see by reducing competing light in the sky.

The comet will only remain visible in the Northern Hemisphere until the start of May, after which it will slip over the horizon and rise in the southern hemisphere.

Why does the name Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) mean?

The comet’s name, C/2025 F2 (SWAN), follows standard astronomical naming convention, with each part having its particular meaning:

C/ - This prefix indicates it’s a non-periodic comet - meaning it does not have a predictable, short-term orbit (like Halley’s comet, which comes back every few decades. Periodic comets are prefixed P/).

2025 - The year the comet was discovered

F2 - The F represents the half-month of discovery. ‘A’ represents the first half of January, ‘B’ the second half. So F means it was discovered in the second half of March. The 2 means it was the second comet discovered in the time period. So yes, there is a Comet C/2025 F1.

(SWAN) - This refers to the instrument or team that discovered it. This comet was spotted on photographs taken by the SWAN (Solar Wind ANisotropies), an instrument on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO, spacecraft, operated jointly by NASA and the European Space Agency.

For the record, C/2025 F2 (SWAN) was independently identified in the SWAN images by amateur astronomers Ukraine-based Vladimir Bezugly, Michael Mattiazzo in Australia and Rob Matson from the US. However, discoverers’ names are not included in a comet’s official designation unless the discovery was made directly via telescope.

One interesting thing to note is that if it has been officially confirmed by the Minor Planet Center that C/2025 F2 (SWAN) has disintegrated its name will change to D/2025 F2 (SWAN). D/ standing for a comet that has disintegrated or is considered lost.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.