Around October 21st 2025, if you turn towards the skies, you may witness the arrival of Comet Lemmon C/2025 A6, one of our numerous celestial cousins arriving at this time, having been locked in an orbital loop around the Sun for the last 1350 years.

Its closest approach to Earth is on October 21, 2025, at a distance of about 0.6 astronomical units (AU) which is 55 million miles which will make it visible through binoculars in the predawn eastern sky or, by mid-month, in the evening northwest after sunset.

Its peak in brightness will be on the night of Halloween, October 31, when it should become visible to the naked eye under dark skies, appearing as a greenish glow with a faint tail in the western sky near Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer which illustrates the hidden side of celestial and earthly events.

Throughout history, the sightings of Comets like Lemmon have been viewed as harbingers of doom and disaster, omens signalling impending calamity, from plagues (pandemics) and conflicts (wars), to the fall of nations and rulers. We currently have four Comets passing through the Solar System.

During the last sighting of Comet Lemmon 1350 years ago, the year was AD 675: the Islamic Caliphate’s were expanding their empire making rapid advances in growth challenging and conquering Byzantine and European powers.

The Britons in Britannia were also being challenged by the previous vast immigration of Angles, Saxons and Jutes. They had arrived in boats along the coastline, having travelled from overseas settling in Britain after the collapse of the Roman Empire and subsequent chaos due to disbanding of the army and government. The separate cultures were now looking to expand their own territories and challenged their neighbours pushing the Celts, Picts and Scots and Romano-British to the remotest parts of the multiple Kingdoms. Nothing was United at this time.

Large bells were used to call the people to meetings and services. It became tradition for the early Christian churches to ‘toll’ the bells, warning folk of the imminent threats and trials ahead upon sighting invaders by boat in early times. Churches became the sanctuaries, the refuges and havens for the community in times of hardship and austerity.

We see illustrated in the medieval rhyme, ‘Oranges and Lemons’, symbolizing the debt of gratitude, not to forget or forgo the Church to protect against the evils of life against the imposition of greater control, reminding all to remain vigilant against forces and doctrines that encroach on personal freedoms.

Particularly, in the warning of the last line of the rhyme.
Two sticks and an apple – ring the bells at Whitechapel
Old Father Bald Pate ring the bells of Aldgate,
Maids in white aprons ring the bells at St Catherines,
Oranges and lemons – ring the bells at St. Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings – say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me? – say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich – say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be? – say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know – says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!