The Sun’s Wind Snipped Off a Piece of Comet Lemmon’s Tail
Recent observations and studies reveal just how dynamic and active cosmic objects can be within our solar system.
Astronomer Brennan Gilmore captured unique images that display how the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun, has ‘bitten off’ a portion of the tail of the comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon).
This phenomenon underscores the ongoing interaction between comets and solar activity, illustrating the complex dance of space weather.
As the comet approaches Earth, it continues to brighten and become increasingly visible to the naked eye, with predictions indicating it will be observable in the coming weeks.
The recorded images and time-lapse videos show that the comet’s glowing green tail, visible during its passage near the star TW Leonis Minoris in the constellation Leo Minor on October 4th, is formed by material reflecting sunlight.
The tail is constantly swept and shaped by the solar wind, which pushes it away from the Sun, causing it to appear to trail behind the comet’s movement.
Scientists also warn that in October, two cometary visitors will be visible in the night sky alongside the Orion meteor shower, making this period particularly exciting for astronomy enthusiasts and skywatchers alike.