Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is now putting on a show, visible low in the predawn sky, with binoculars or telescope.
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C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is an Oort cloud comet, traveling from ~6,300 AU away for ~170,000 years. Its hyperbolic trajectory will cause it to be ejected from the Solar System on its way out, if it survives.
Its trajectory is sharply inclined wrt to the ecliptic. It will cross the ecliptic about halfway between Earth and the Sun, with perihelion on April 19.
Let's see how much it will brighten up due to forward scattering of sunlight by its dusty tail.
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https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20R3&view=VOP
3/nComet R3 (PanSTARRS) featured on NASA APOD yesterday.
This beautiful image of the comet sporting a tail extending over 10 degrees, was taken on April 9 from Sion, Switzerland with the big mountain Bietschhorn on the left.
The composite image was taken with a 120-300 lens, set at 180mm.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260412.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/DW6sYW2DBWm/
Image Credit & Copyright: José Rodrigues
4/n
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Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is now putting on a show, visible low in the predawn sky, with binoculars or telescope.
Perihelion: Apr 19, Mag 3.6, 0.5 AU from Sun, 0.587 AU from earth, inside the orbit of Venus
Nearest approach: Apr 26, Mag 1.2, 0.489 AU from Earth
Here is spectacular image of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), taken at 03:46 UTC April 13, using a 12” telescope at Farm Tivoli, Namibia, by Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger, .
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/236984486729162/user/100003512456563/
1/n@AkaSci huh, look what happens when you zoom into the pic!
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Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is now putting on a show, visible low in the predawn sky, with binoculars or telescope.
Perihelion: Apr 19, Mag 3.6, 0.5 AU from Sun, 0.587 AU from earth, inside the orbit of Venus
Nearest approach: Apr 26, Mag 1.2, 0.489 AU from Earth
Here is spectacular image of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), taken at 03:46 UTC April 13, using a 12” telescope at Farm Tivoli, Namibia, by Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger, .
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/236984486729162/user/100003512456563/
1/n@AkaSci what general direction and inclination from North America? Namibia is kind of a haul.
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Here is a skymap with the location of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) in the predawn sky until April 17, within the Pegasus Constellation.
After perihelion on April 19, it will appear after sunset, but remain low in the sky.
It will brighten to Mag 3.5 and even to 0.0 due to forward scattering as it flies between Earth and the Sun.
Best time to watch is over the next few days.
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/astro-bob/astro-bob-comet-pan-starrs-makes-brief-bright-appearance-at-dawn
https://astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/2025R3
2/n@AkaSci not sure I have a clear eastern view of 20 degrees or less from the horizon an hour before sunrise.
Wondering about its brightness once it’s 0n sunset side, can’t see the chart and post about itat the same time however.
Mercury is similarly almost always obscured to me- by tree or atmosphere. Usually the mornings are clearer tho.
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@AkaSci not sure I have a clear eastern view of 20 degrees or less from the horizon an hour before sunrise.
Wondering about its brightness once it’s 0n sunset side, can’t see the chart and post about itat the same time however.
Mercury is similarly almost always obscured to me- by tree or atmosphere. Usually the mornings are clearer tho.
You can use this website to see the location and elevation angle of the comet from your location and predawn time.
E.g., the view below is at 6:00 a.m. local time April 14 in NYC. Elevation angle = 24°
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You can use this website to see the location and elevation angle of the comet from your location and predawn time.
E.g., the view below is at 6:00 a.m. local time April 14 in NYC. Elevation angle = 24°
Stellarium tracks it for me.
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Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) featured on NASA APOD yesterday.
This beautiful image of the comet sporting a tail extending over 10 degrees, was taken on April 9 from Sion, Switzerland with the big mountain Bietschhorn on the left.
The composite image was taken with a 120-300 lens, set at 180mm.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260412.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/DW6sYW2DBWm/
Image Credit & Copyright: José Rodrigues
4/nComet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) artistically captured by astrophotographer Petr Horálek over the Seč Lake, Czech Republic.
The Andromeda Galaxy can be seen on the left in this pic taken just before dawn.
https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26091
Check out Petr's other works at https://www.petrhoralek.com/ and
https://www.instagram.com/petrhoralek/?hl=en
5/n
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Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) artistically captured by astrophotographer Petr Horálek over the Seč Lake, Czech Republic.
The Andromeda Galaxy can be seen on the left in this pic taken just before dawn.
https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26091
Check out Petr's other works at https://www.petrhoralek.com/ and
https://www.instagram.com/petrhoralek/?hl=en
5/nComet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is featured in today's NASA APOD.
This image was taken by astrophotographer Haythem Hamdi, in Rhode Island, USA, on April 12. It captures the comet’s glowing coma and flowing tail shaped by the solar wind. Haythem used an Askar 80PHQ refractor and reducer to get a wide field of view for framing the long tail.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260414.html
https://www.instagram.com/hamdi_astrophotography/
Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi
6/n
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Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is featured in today's NASA APOD.
This image was taken by astrophotographer Haythem Hamdi, in Rhode Island, USA, on April 12. It captures the comet’s glowing coma and flowing tail shaped by the solar wind. Haythem used an Askar 80PHQ refractor and reducer to get a wide field of view for framing the long tail.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260414.html
https://www.instagram.com/hamdi_astrophotography/
Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi
6/nCheck out this earlier thread on why the coma of most comets, including that of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), glows green.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
― Albert Einstein -
Check out this earlier thread on why the coma of most comets, including that of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), glows green.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
― Albert EinsteinComet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) with its long wispy tail looming over the misty mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Hiratani Village, Japan.
Date: April 13, 2026
Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Lens: Samyang 135mm f/2.0
Setting : ISO400
60sx40shotshttps://www.instagram.com/zoe_zoe0718
Credit: Zoe
8/n
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Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) with its long wispy tail looming over the misty mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Hiratani Village, Japan.
Date: April 13, 2026
Camera: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Lens: Samyang 135mm f/2.0
Setting : ISO400
60sx40shotshttps://www.instagram.com/zoe_zoe0718
Credit: Zoe
8/nThis beautiful image of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) was taken by astrophotographer Marina Prol, early morning on April 14th, from Ayagaures viewpoint in the southern part of Gran Canaria.
https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=232320
https://www.marinaprol.com/astroandnightscapes
9/n
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This beautiful image of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) was taken by astrophotographer Marina Prol, early morning on April 14th, from Ayagaures viewpoint in the southern part of Gran Canaria.
https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=232320
https://www.marinaprol.com/astroandnightscapes
9/nPost #10 got disconnected from the thread. This is one way to reconnect it and continue the thread.
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Post #10 got disconnected from the thread. This is one way to reconnect it and continue the thread.
Comet C/2025 R3 beautifully captured by astrophotographer Luc Perrot on April 16 from a volcanic peak overlooking France's Reunion Island, located in the Southern hemisphere, east of Madagascar.
Featured on NASA APOD on April 18.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260418.html
Check out Luc's other works at https://www.lucperrot.fr/
11/n
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R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
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Comet C/2025 R3 beautifully captured by astrophotographer Luc Perrot on April 16 from a volcanic peak overlooking France's Reunion Island, located in the Southern hemisphere, east of Madagascar.
Featured on NASA APOD on April 18.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260418.html
Check out Luc's other works at https://www.lucperrot.fr/
11/nLooks like Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) survived its trip around the Sun and is now on its return trip out of the Solar System.
The comet makes its closest approach to Earth today.
These are images captured by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 instrument.
LASCO = Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph.
Animation at https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/
12/n
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Looks like Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) survived its trip around the Sun and is now on its return trip out of the Solar System.
The comet makes its closest approach to Earth today.
These are images captured by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 instrument.
LASCO = Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph.
Animation at https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/
12/nVideo from ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 with comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) in its field of view, uploaded to YouTube by Bum-Suk Yeom (염범석).
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Looks like Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) survived its trip around the Sun and is now on its return trip out of the Solar System.
The comet makes its closest approach to Earth today.
These are images captured by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 instrument.
LASCO = Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph.
Animation at https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/
12/n -
Looks like Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) survived its trip around the Sun and is now on its return trip out of the Solar System.
The comet makes its closest approach to Earth today.
These are images captured by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 instrument.
LASCO = Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph.
Animation at https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/
12/nThe ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), launched on Dec. 2, 1995, has been studying the Sun for over 30 years, from its perch in a Halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1.
With its 12 instruments, SOHO allows scientists to study the Sun’s internal structure and dynamics, the chromosphere, the corona, and solar particles. It has discovered over 5,000 comets.
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/soho/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_and_Heliospheric_Observatory
13/n
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Looks like Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) survived its trip around the Sun and is now on its return trip out of the Solar System.
The comet makes its closest approach to Earth today.
These are images captured by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO C3 instrument.
LASCO = Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph.
Animation at https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/
12/n@AkaSci I’ve been busy, hadn’t tracked it, but this looks like decent info on how to try to see it: https://starwalk.space/en/news/comet-c2025-r3-panstarrs
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The ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), launched on Dec. 2, 1995, has been studying the Sun for over 30 years, from its perch in a Halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1.
With its 12 instruments, SOHO allows scientists to study the Sun’s internal structure and dynamics, the chromosphere, the corona, and solar particles. It has discovered over 5,000 comets.
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/soho/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_and_Heliospheric_Observatory
13/nThe horror! The horror!
How billionaires, one in particular, are destroying the night sky and astronomy.
This is a pic of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), trapped in a celestial cage of light streaks formed by LEO satellites racing across the sky in this 10-minute exposure image.
This is with ~10,000 orbiting satellites. Now, imagine a million of them, each with a solar array ~10x larger.
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https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260427.html
Image Credit & Copyright: Uli Fehr
14/n -
The horror! The horror!
How billionaires, one in particular, are destroying the night sky and astronomy.
This is a pic of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), trapped in a celestial cage of light streaks formed by LEO satellites racing across the sky in this 10-minute exposure image.
This is with ~10,000 orbiting satellites. Now, imagine a million of them, each with a solar array ~10x larger.
️
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260427.html
Image Credit & Copyright: Uli Fehr
14/nStop Prison Earth.
