MUSCAT : Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Vice Chairman of OSAS, confirmed that this rare celestial observation marks a significant milestone in Oman’s efforts to monitor and document major astronomical events. He noted that Comet Lemon is expected to be among the brightest comets of the year, reaching an apparent magnitude of (4), making it visible through telescopes and even with the naked eye in areas free from light pollution.

According to Al Mahrouqi, Comet Lemon is a long-period comet that completes an orbit roughly every 1,200 years. Its path was slightly altered during its close encounter with Jupiter in April 2025. The comet made its closest approach to Earth on October 21, 2025, at a distance of about 89.7 million kilometers, and is expected to reach its perihelion, the point closest to the Sun, on November 8, at about 79.3 million kilometers away. This period, he added, offers ideal viewing conditions across Oman, particularly on dark nights toward the end of October.

Astronomer Ali bin Rabia Al Kindi, a member of OSAS, managed to capture striking images of the comet from the Al Hajar Al Gharbi Starlight Reserve. The photographs reveal the comet’s luminous nucleus and its bluish-green tail, a result of solar ultraviolet rays interacting with gases such as carbon dioxide (C₂) and cyanogen (CN), causing them to ionize and emit a vivid green glow. The comet’s dust-laden tail, shaped by the solar wind, created a breathtaking scene visible across Omani skies.

Al Mahrouqi highlighted that the comet’s appearance, a once-in-a-millennium event, offers a rare opportunity for observation and documentation, enriching scientific understanding and inspiring public interest in space science.

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