In this photo taken 4th on France's Réunion Island in the southern Indian Ocean, the two comets "ATLAS (left)" and "SWAN25B" appear side by side as if racing. This is only a chance encounter; in reality, the two comets are moving along different orbits. ATLAS, which is approaching the sun, is expected to shine brightly when it makes its closest approach in early Oct. By contrast, SWAN25B is moving farther from the sun, but is forecast to become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye when it makes its closest approach to Earth in mid-Oct. Both comets display bluish gas comet nuclei and ion tails stretching away from the sun.
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