A 52-year-old photographer from Lincolnshire, England, considers himself "very lucky" after successfully capturing a remarkable image of Comet C/2025 A6, also known as Comet Lemmon, as it appeared over the Lancaster bomber sculpture in Norton Disney. Steve Fearn described the experience as "quite a buzz, capturing something so unique" when he photographed the comet above the life-size sculpture titled "On Freedom's Wings," which serves as a tribute to Royal Air Force crews who served during World War Two.
Comet Lemmon was first detected in January by astronomers at the Mount Lemmon Survey in the United States. The comet is particularly notable for its distinctive blue ion tail, which Fearn found "quite satisfying" to photograph. "Comet Lemmon is nice to look at because it has quite a distinctive blue ion tail, so it was quite satisfying," Fearn explained. The photographer's image also captured an additional celestial phenomenon - a grey light streaking across the sky, which he believes was fuel from a SpaceX rocket.
Fearn utilized specialized equipment to achieve this stunning photograph, employing a tracking mount that counters Earth's rotation and follows objects as they move across the sky. The photographer noted that recent weather conditions had made it challenging to capture clear images of the comet. Despite these difficulties, his persistence paid off with this exceptional shot that combines both astronomical wonder and historical commemoration.
This isn't Fearn's first success with comet photography. He has previously captured images of other notable comets, including Comet Neowise and Comet Atlas. His experience with astronomical photography clearly contributed to his ability to successfully document Comet Lemmon's appearance over the meaningful Lancaster bomber memorial.
Comet Lemmon reached its closest approach to Earth on October 21, when it was approximately 56 million miles (90 million kilometers) away from our planet. The comet is expected to remain visible to observers through the beginning of November, providing continued opportunities for both amateur and professional astronomers to view this celestial visitor. For those interested in observing the comet themselves, it can be viewed through binoculars or a telescope.
Comets are fascinating celestial objects composed of ice, dust, and rock that orbit the sun, and they are best known for their characteristic long tails that become visible as they approach our solar system's center. The combination of Comet Lemmon's distinctive blue ion tail and its positioning over the historically significant Lancaster bomber sculpture creates a unique intersection of natural wonder and human remembrance.
