Skywatching News 21 September 2025

Alien Probe or Cosmic Relic? Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Baffles Scientists (updated 27.10.2025)

3I/ATLAS Today (Nov. 11, 2025): Interstellar Comet Reappears with Growing Ion Tail, Morning-Sky Return & Rumor Control

Updated: November 11, 2025 Key points at a glance What’s new today A longer, sharper tail. Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi reports that 3I/ATLAS’s ion tail has lengthened to at least 0.7°, with an anti‑tail also apparent in stacked exposures taken this morning (Nov. 11) from Italy. The session was conducted at low altitude above the eastern horizon under a bright Moon, underscoring just how active and structured the comet has become post‑perihelion. The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 Visible again before dawn. As predicted, 3I/ATLAS has returned to the morning sky, now drifting through Virgo in the hours before sunrise. BBC Sky

11 November 2025

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Visitor from Beyond the Solar System

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Nov. 10, 2025): First Radio Signal Confirmed, Fresh Jet/Tail Images & What to Watch Next

Updated: November 10, 2025 — No threat to Earth; closest approach remains mid‑December. Key points at a glance What’s new today (Nov. 10) Radio proof of “cometness.” After weeks of speculation, astronomers have the clearest radio evidence yet that 3I/ATLAS behaves like a normal comet: MeerKAT detected hydroxyl (OH) absorption at 1665 and 1667 MHz during a deep observation on Oct. 24 while the object was near the Sun in the sky. OH is produced when water from a comet’s coma is broken apart by sunlight, and these specific radio lines are a textbook marker of that process. The team also notes earlier

10 November 2025

Astronomy · Comets · Radio Astronomy · Skywatching · Space News

Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS – a 10-Billion-Year-Old Time Capsule – Flies Past Mars

Comet 3I/ATLAS Today (Nov. 9, 2025): Post‑Perihelion Status, New Spacecraft Images, Visibility Guide — and What’s Hype vs Fact

Published: November 9, 2025 Comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) — only the third confirmed interstellar object to sweep through our solar system — has reemerged from behind the sun and is sliding into the predawn sky this week. Fresh spacecraft imagery, a flurry of social media claims about its “missing tail,” and ongoing questions about color changes have made it the most watched rock‑ice visitor of the season. Here’s what’s new today, what’s reliable, and how to see it yourself. Space Key updates on Nov. 9 What astronomers agree on Fact‑check: today’s most shared claims “It has no tail — must

9 November 2025

Astronomy · Comets · Science News · Skywatching · Space Exploration

Supermoon, Northern Lights & “Dragon” Meteors: Skywatch Alerts for Oct. 5–6, 2025

The Night Sky Spectacle: October 5–6, 2025 As we head into the first weekend of October 2025, the night sky is bursting with activity. From an extra-bright full Moon to a flurry of meteors – and even lingering auroras and newfound comets – skywatchers across the globe have plenty to look up for. Here’s a detailed rundown of what to expect on the nights of October 5–6, 2025, including where and when to see each phenomenon, expert insights, and viewing tips from NASA, NOAA, and other authorities. A Dazzling Harvest Supermoon Takes Center Stage The Moon will be the undeniable

5 October 2025

Astronomy · Lunar Events · Meteor Showers · Northern Lights · Skywatching

Spectacular October 2–3, 2025 Skywatch Alert: Meteor Showers, Planets & Aurora on the Horizon

Meteor Showers: Draconids & Orionids Early October brings the Draconids and Orionids meteor showers. NASA’s skywatching notes explain that the Draconids (debris from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner) will streak through the sky Oct. 6–10 nationalgeographic.com. In a perfect dark sky the Draconids can reach “up to 10 meteors per hour,” but this year a bright full Moon on Oct. 6–7 will drown out most fainter meteors science.nasa.gov. Observers should try to block the Moon (for example, by hiding it behind a tree or building) if possible. After the Draconids, the Orionid meteor shower ramps up. Space.com reports “the Orionid meteor shower has

2 October 2025

Astronomy · Aurora · Meteor Showers · Planets · Skywatching

Skywatch Alert: Meteors, Auroras & ISS Sighting to Light Up Oct 1–2, 2025

Key Facts Meteor Showers & Comets Early October brings two modest meteor showers. The Orionids, active Sept 26–Nov 7, begin in earnest on Oct 2 amsmeteors.org starwalk.space. NASA notes the Orionids arise from “debris trailing behind Halley’s Comet” and typically yield ~10–20 meteors/hr at peak science.nasa.gov. (Peak viewing is mid-Oct, but with the New Moon on Oct 21–22 the sky will be dark.) Meanwhile, the Southern Taurids (active Sept 20–Nov 20) are underway; these slow meteors from Comet 2P/Encke are rich in bright fireballs amsmeteors.org. Note the sky will be fairly bright around Oct 1–2 (Moon ~¾ full in-the-sky.org), so expect

1 October 2025

Astronomy · ISS Sightings · Meteor Showers · Northern Lights · Skywatching

Cosmic Skywatch Alert: Geomagnetic Storms, Shooting Stars & Comets Light Up Late Sep–Early Oct 2025

Space Weather & Aurora Forecast NOAA forecasts a Strong (G3) geomagnetic storm on Sept 30, 2025. According to SWPC, “G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storming is expected through 30/1200 UTC due to CME influences” swpc.noaa.gov. This follows an M6.4-class solar flare on Sept 29 (from active Region 4232), which caused an R2-level radio blackout swpc.noaa.gov. Aurora experts note that such storms can power dazzling Northern Lights. The peak storming late Sept 30 (early Oct 1 UT) means northern skies may glow. “Quiet to active” conditions are forecast after the storm, so Sept 30 is the prime aurora night. (Skywatchers should watch real-time SWPC

30 September 2025

Astronomy · Comets · Meteor Showers · Skywatching · Space Events

Skywatch Alert: Aurora, Meteor Showers & Satellite Sights – What to See Sept 29–30, 2025

Space Weather Forecast Space weather experts agree: late September will be mostly uneventful. NOAA’s SWPC issued a 3-day forecast on Sept 29 predicting only quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions (Kp indices up to 4) services.swpc.noaa.gov. In its rationale NOAA explicitly notes “No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected” on Sept 29–30 services.swpc.noaa.gov. EarthSky’s “Sun News” bulletin echoed this outlook, describing Sept 29–30 as “Quiet to unsettled” as the effects of a coronal-hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) wane earthsky.org. Space.com’s aurora live-blog (Sept 25 update) had warned that a small solar wind boost over the weekend might briefly push

29 September 2025

Astronomy · Meteor Showers · Satellites · Skywatching · Space Events

Cosmic Sky Show: Northern Lights, Shooting Stars & Space Spectacles Dazzle Sept. 26–27, 2025

Key Facts Space Weather Outlook: Auroras & Solar Storms After a geomagnetically active equinox week, Earth’s magnetosphere is settling down for now. A few days ago, skywatchers as far south as Alberta were treated to vibrant auroral shapes (one even looked like a green “shark’s fin” cutting through the stars) thanks to a high-speed solar wind stream spaceweather.com. As of Friday, Sept. 26, that solar wind has slackened, and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts quiet geomagnetic conditions in the near term earthsky.org. Any auroras tonight will likely be confined to the high Arctic latitudes – think northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland,

26 September 2025

Astronomy · Meteor Showers · Northern Lights · Skywatching · Space · Space Events

Saturn Dazzles, New Comet Rises, and Auroras Loom: Skywatch Alert for Sept 24–25, 2025

Saturn Steals the Show If you step outside on these late-September nights, Saturn immediately grabs your attention. The ringed planet reached opposition (when Earth passed directly between Saturn and the Sun) on September 21, and it remains exceptionally bright and gorgeous in the sky planetary.org. At opposition Saturn is closest to Earth for the year, so it shines at maximum brilliance and is visible all night, rising around sunset and setting near dawn. “Saturn will be at its closest and brightest all year!” as NASA explains science.nasa.gov – truly the best time to enjoy this gas giant. Look for Saturn

24 September 2025

Astronomy · Auroras · Comets · Planets · Skywatching

Equinox Auroras, Mystery Fireballs & Planetary Spectacles (Sept 23–24, 2025 Skywatch Alert)

Summary Night Sky Highlights (Sept 23–24, 2025) Auroras Dance (But Fading) The autumnal equinox on Sept 22 didn’t just mark the start of fall – it also enhanced Earth’s aurora activity. Around the equinox, Earth’s tilted magnetic field lets more solar particles in, an effect scientists call the “equinox effect” people.com. This year lived up to that reputation: NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center had forecast minor geomagnetic storms (G1) from Sept 21 through 23, meaning the northern lights could be seen much farther south than usual during that period people.com. Indeed, auroras “crashed the equinox party” this week, delighting skywatchers

23 September 2025

Astronomy · Aurora · Meteor Showers · Skywatching · Space Events

Skywatchers’ Delight: Solar Eclipse, Saturn’s Brightest Night & Equinox Auroras (Sept 21–22, 2025)

Key Facts: Partial Solar Eclipse at Dawn (Sept 21) An impressive partial solar eclipse will greet early-risers (and late-day viewers across the dateline) on Sunday, Sept 21, 2025. This eclipse is “deep” – at peak about 85% of the sun’s disk will be covered by the moon earthsky.org. The eclipse path spans the South Pacific, including much of New Zealand, a thin slice of eastern Australia’s coast, parts of Antarctica, and various Pacific islands space.com. In these regions the event happens around local sunrise on the 22nd (morning of Sept 22 in NZ/Aus, which corresponds to Sept 21 UTC) earthsky.org.

21 September 2025

Astronomy · Auroras · Saturn · Skywatching · Solar Eclipses

Skywatching News 21 September 2025 - 11 November 2025