Australia’s Own Discovery: Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN – Found by Michael Mattiazzo

In thrilling news for Southern Hemisphere skywatchers, a new comet has been discovered—Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN—and the discovery belongs to none other than Michael Mattiazzo, Australia’s leading comet expert. Based in Swan Hill, Victoria, Mattiazzo is renowned globally for his long-standing dedication to comet discovery and solar system observations.

This newest celestial visitor was identified on April 1, 2025, by Mattiazzo through careful examination of imagery from the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) LASCO C3 coronagraph. His sharp eye picked out the comet as it emerged in the solar spacecraft’s wide-angle field, confirming its uniqueness and securing its official designation.

The comet’s name, C/2025 F2 SWAN, comes from the Solar Wind ANisotropies (SWAN) instrument aboard SOHO, which helps detect comets by observing hydrogen emissions—a fitting tribute to the instrument and the tradition of naming comets after their discoverers or associated instruments.

🔭 When and Where to See Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN in Australia

As it moves away from the Sun and brightens, Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN will become visible in the Southern Hemisphere’s morning sky throughout May and into June 2025.

🗓️ Best Viewing Dates:

• Mid to Late May 2025: The comet will be rising earlier each morning, climbing higher above the eastern horizon.
• June 2025: Ideal observing conditions just before sunrise under dark skies.

📅 Add to Your Calendar

🌌 Where to Look:

• Look low in the eastern sky during dawn twilight, ideally an hour before sunrise.
• The comet will pass through the constellations Pisces, Aries, and Taurus, offering an easy path to follow with binoculars or a telescope.
• On particularly dark mornings, the comet’s coma and tail may be faintly visible to the naked eye in remote rural areas.

To increase your chances of success, get away from city lights, let your eyes adjust to the dark, and have your optics ready.

🔭 Recommended Sky-Watcher Gear to View the Comet

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned amateur astronomer, Sky-Watcher has the perfect tool to help you catch this once-in-a-lifetime event:

• Sky-Watcher 15×70 Astronomy Binoculars
  Large aperture binoculars that offer bright, wide-field views—ideal for spotting the diffuse glow of a comet’s coma and tail.
• Sky-Watcher SW607AZ2 Refractor Telescope
  An ultra-portable entry-level telescope that’s perfect for comet tracking with a wide field of view and easy-to-use AZ2 mount.
• Sky-Watcher SW127 Maksutov with AZ-GTi GoTo Mount
  A high-contrast telescope paired with a fully computerised tracking mount, allowing you to lock onto and follow the comet automatically as it moves across the sky.
• Sky-Watcher SWDOB150P Dobsonian Reflector
  With its powerful 6-inch aperture, this intuitive point-and-view telescope provides detailed views of the comet’s structure and is ideal for observing faint celestial objects like comets.

🇦🇺 A Proud Australian Discovery

Michael Mattiazzo’s discovery of Comet C/2025 F2 SWAN marks yet another incredible achievement in Australian astronomy. As the comet graces our morning skies in the weeks ahead, it offers all of us a chance to look up and connect with a discovery made right here on home soil.

So rise early, grab your Sky-Watcher gear, and enjoy the thrill of observing a newly discovered comet—one that carries a piece of Australia in its name and story.

🔗 Learn More:

• Southern Comets Website
• Michael Mattiazzo on Facebook