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SWAN was spotted in June 2006 in images taken by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument aboard the SOHO spacecraft. As SWAN approached the Sun earlier this month material boiled off its surface, releasing a pocket of gas that is now sparkling in the sunlight.
Comet SWAN can be seen from very dark regions with the naked eye as a small smudge and can be viewed easily with binoculars in built-up locations.
Those hoping to catch a glimpse of SWAN should look for the Hercules cluster (about one third of the way down the right side of the keystone) and move down about four degrees to two bright stars (of magnitudes 5.4 and 5.2). SWAN is just a couple of degrees to the right.
SWAN�s unusual orbit appears to be hyperbolic, meaning it�s likely to shoot off into interstellar space, never to return to the Solar System.
More info: Skymap showing comet SWAN
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